INGRID (ENGLISH VERSION)

A QUIET LIFE

In late June 2029, we packed up our stuff and flew back home to Kirkenes. My mum moved back to our old house in Bjørnevatn, but I noticed her heart was heavy. It was tough for her to live there without my dad. Therefore I suggested she move with us, as our house was huge. However, she said she didn't want to be in our space too much.

My friends didn't know I had returned, as I hadn't informed them about it. That's why I told my daughter to go to Jesikka's place and surprise her with her presence. Two hours later, the youngster returned with a wide smile on her face.

"What happened?" I asked.

"You can't imagine", she replied. "I found her there with Sofia".

"And?"

"They wouldn't even recognise me!!", she exclaimed.

"What do you mean?"

"I rang the bell and when I walked in, they were looking at me very odd. And then I said 'It's Anna, Ingrid's daughter' and they said I had grown up so much they wouldn't realise who I was".

She started rubbing her belly.

"They asked me to have a meal with them," she said. "They are expecting you too."

That evening, I visited Jesikka indeed and we had dinner together. When she asked me the common question 'how are you?' I laughed and answered: "Would you like me to reply fine, thank you, and you? or are you really interested in learning how I really am?"

"Ingrid, how is your health and how is your soul?"

"Right. That's how you should be talking. Well...", I started. "I think that now I am able to say that I am a happy woman. Maybe the illness I had made me understand that we have to live each and every moment of ours as if it were our last one. To be grateful for being alive and breathing and not complaining about everything happening".

Jesikka shook her head. "And we also have to make our dreams come true".

"Dreams...", I said. "You know, as far as that is concerned, I have reconsidered a little bit. I mean that back in the day I also fancied saying I have dreams, however, I believe that a dream and a wish are distant things, something that we want to happen and not something we act for its happen. A dream might be something imaginary, that we only think about and never make come true. I'd rather talk about intentions, which I have and try to achieve them".

"You're right," she said. "All that you're saying reminds me of those things I like to do this time and have helped me become a balanced person".

"And that is?"

"I've started to do yoga", she said. "And I can tell is much more effective than psychotherapy".

I glared at her. "Yoga?"

"Yes, of course".

"So to say, you activate your chakras and take the energy from the universe through your third eye?", I said ironically.

"Oh, come on now. This isn't what yoga is all about. To start with, it is physical exercise, something which you love. Furthermore, yoga makes you live your life to the full. It's all that you say that you like to do. Just give it a go and you'll see how much you'll like it."

"Well, ok". I brought my palms together in front of my chest, bowed my head forth and said "Namaste!" Jesikka laughed. "The first time you'll do yoga, you'll see how much you'll like it. It's just that your mind is so much into science at the moment that you think that this is all about mystical bullshit".

Ain't it so?

"Oh, I forgot to tell you," she said after a while. "In July the exhibition opens at the museum. I would organise a tour for the people myself, but I believe that now that you've come back, it would be better if you did it, as you also have family roots".