Books

Some journeys see us going home as quickly as possible because they put us through so much that we started missing home, work and everyday routine. Some leave us wanting more and make we resent the very thought of having to go home. Sometimes, we must stand at the crossroads - on the one hand, we might want to hug our loved ones, and on the other, the heart yearns to continue exploring the world. These two things rarely go hand in hand.

The return from Abisko was difficult. I longed for my family, but on the other hand, I felt an irresistible desire to stay there, in frozen snow under a starry sky illuminated by magical flashes of green light. I sometimes wonder what my life would be like now if I had chosen to continue my journey. Would I freeze and starve to death, or would I discover my forgotten Viking soul and somehow survive until spring? Or would I simply die broken-hearted, longing for my wife and sons? Thankfully, I will never know the answer. I came home with a red face covered with facial hair and skin chafed by wind, wearing clothes that reeked of body odor.