This evening I had hoped to listen to Merete Mazzarella, a Swedish journalist, essaist and author, speak at Finlandsinstitutet in Stockholm about her two most recent books: När vi spelade Afrikas stjärna and Fredricka Charlotta född Tengström. While I arrived in good time for the talk, I was turned away together with 20 to 30 other disappointed listeners because the lecture hall for some 200 persons was already full, despite the fact that we had arrived in good time before the posted "meeting time".
In my frustration, several thoughts went through my mind: relax, go home and take it easy; you've already corresponded with Merete M by mail about these books, so you've satiated at least some of your curiosity; how different this situation is from the times I''ve found myself sitting with a dozen or so other diehards at the foot of a Nobel laureate in the Black Oak Bookstore in north Berkeley and been given so much to think about; Jante Law: what is the difference between the intellectual climate of Sweden/Finland/Scandinavia and the USA? I think I am starved here in Sweden and returned home, wherever that may be, this evening to contemplate my empty plate....and write on.
I find solace in knowing that tomorrow evening, I will break bread and eat fish with one of my favorite friends.
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