{"id":298,"date":"2015-01-19T20:05:51","date_gmt":"2015-01-19T19:05:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.soniasvikt.org\/?p=298"},"modified":"2015-02-04T23:19:56","modified_gmt":"2015-02-04T22:19:56","slug":"re-entry-in-both-directions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.soniasvikt.org\/?p=298","title":{"rendered":"Re-entry, in both directions"},"content":{"rendered":"

We had slightly less than\u00a0three weeks vacation, from December 19th through January 6th. I flew home to Maryland (the Washington, D.C. area) on the 19th and back on January 4th-5th. It was wonderful to go home and I am glad I did it, but it was surreal to suddenly be back in my “regular” life. I had a great time seeing my daughters and dog and friends, and playing tennis and driving my car, and just being at home.<\/p>\n

I bought a second nyckelharpa in Sweden, after testing many, to bring back and leave in the U.S. and rent out to a student. I brought it home (and payed duty at the border, which took a lot of time but was not expensive, 3.2%) and practiced it while home and left it there. It is by Elof Jansson, purchased from Leif Alpsj\u00f6. In the meantime,\u00a0I had my Harry Hedbom nyckelharpa repaired by Harry while I was gone. It needed revarnishing on the back, and it was a good\u00a0opportunity to have it done while I was away.<\/p>\n

I also took home and left my hard case (with the homemade cover) that\u00a0is very heavy, 12 pounds by itself. I had been hesitant to\u00a0use a soft case because it seemed so much less protective than the hard case. But after attending Oktoberst\u00e4mma with over 1800 people, 800 of them musicians and ~600 of them nyckelharpa players using soft cases, I decided to get over it. I bought a new soft case in Sweden from Kjell Lundvall; he gets them from Spain (bag luthiers.com).<\/p>\n

i took home books and CDs, clothes I am not wearing and gifts, and brought back sweaters, essential foods (Bob’s Red Mill 7-grain hot cereal, chocolate chips), medications, more yarn, and products for curly hair.<\/p>\n

I am glad to be back in quiet Tobo, working hard again and being with this group of delightful people. I am at a frustrating point in this journey — highly aware of the gap between how I want to play and sound and how I actually sound. But I am trying to practice my way\u00a0through it.<\/p>\n

Observations:<\/p>\n