Welcome back

see all photos »

To fly from Cape Town South Africa to Copenhagen Denmark was like looking at a map, stretching your arms apart as far as possible and have one hand falling on the end of Africa and the other falling on the top of Europe. It was a long ride, physically and emotionally. As the tires lifted off the tarmac I wondered when would the next time be that I would once againset set foot on the continant of Africa. I fell in love with Africa, its people, its culture and natural beauty.

Now it was time to see friends, and waiting for me in Denmark were my Danish family and friends that began back in 1980 when Peter was an exchange student in Nebraska. As I walked out of the airport in to the cool crisp air of Denmark, it was like someone splashing cold water onto my face to wake me up, shocking me into the reality that after many months I was once again back in winter. I received the warmest of welcomes from Henning as I stepped out of the train station into the clean, orderly and stylish world of Denmark. And soon as I was back in my Danish home with Kirsten, Henning and Peter having dinner and drinking the best beer in Europe.

My last visit to Denmark was in 1987, and although some things have changed since then, one of the things that has remained constant is the joy of being with the Madsen family. It was so good to be with them all again. We swapped stories from the past, about what has happened in life and what the future might hold for us. They fed me as if they were attempting to put all the weight back on me that I had lost, in one week! One sunny afternoon, Peter and his wife Kris had a party for me, where I got to see many people that I had met in the past. Except now they are all married with children, or had a little more white hair. It was a great welcome back party, and had a feeling of homecoming for me. We all had changed physically, moustaches were gone, hairlines had receeded, children tugging at pant legs. But the fun and joy of being together picked up right from where we left it years ago. We ate and drank beer like we were 21 again, except in the wee hours of the night people peeled off with sleepy children and headed for home leaving Kris and myself to close down the fort.

My week zoomed by fast and soon I was boarding once again with a deary feeling and thinking, I thought I was finished with night buses, but mistaken. But compared to the buses I had been on, this was like gloing 1st class and easy. I left Denmark wishing I didn't live so far from my many friends. They are such good people, I even entertained daydreams of living in Denmark, I know it would be a good life filled with fun.

A beautiful sunset sent me on my way and soon it was dark again against the window of my bus, but ever more light in my heart.

Love, Dean