Midsummer 2008

The Madrid Team had just watched Spain qualify for the semis for the first time in over twenty years as we decided to wander into town (well, village) to celebrate the victory. Although happy with the win, we all were exhausted after three days of Midsummer and there was definitely a post-midsummer feeling in the whole seaside village of Varberg where we had decided to spend the night after three crazy ones in Fröslida.

Whilst sipping on a 7 Euro beer we were quietly reflecting on the past days. For both Jason and David it had been their first MS experience and I was happy to see them enjoying so much. In the bar there were four other people, all well beyond drunk, and it was not long before David – a natural conversation starter, a true machine – had started chatting with one couple who had an impressive collection of empty beverages stalled out in front of them, confirming their physical state – and their wealth.

They asked us what we were doing there. We answered about our long weekend and that we come back every year to celebrate Midsummer on the West Coast of Sweden. They were amazed. “Why come all the way from Madrid to join the nerdy Swedes in this traditional celebration?” A quick answer was impossible so I whipped out my camera and showed the woman the following video: (to be uploaded, for now: http://sites.google.com/site/thomasenmadrid/the-blog/midsummer-2008)

She burst into a great – albeit rather tipsy – bout of laughter. “That’s just fantastic, you have totally integrated into Swedish society within three days,” she said. Luckily it was enough and she forgot about her question on why we were there, no further explanation was needed and we started chatting about the hostel they had bought one Swedish mile (that’s 10 kilometres) away.

It’s just that I can’t really explain the reason why we have so much fun up there. Is it the dancing? Is it they silly games we play? Is it the friends we see every year who make me laugh so much? Or is it the traditional Swedish dinner where I always avoid the raw herring in mustard sauce? Could it be the flower picking? Or the parties? The Saturday Pizza? The beach? Why do we enjoy so much? It’s most probably the Schnapps…

I read somewhere that “the foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.” Does this mean we don’t have to go all the way to Sweden to be happy picking flowers in a meadow? Does this mean we have to do it right here in Madrid, erecting the agricultural phallus symbol on Plaza Mayor hopping around it like a frog? Or are we just foolish?

I don’t know, it won’t be the same. Sweden – and it’s people – is just something special. Just to continue churning up quotes, Mark Twain said: “Happiness is a Swedish sunset – it is there for all, but most of us look the other way and lose it.” In a country where in June the difference between sunset and sunrise is minimal, we always manage to see it and that’s why we go to Sweden, every year. (Photos to be found on: http://picasaweb.google.com/reeve.thomas/Midsummer2008)