The Contessa and the Queens Birgitta had along history of loving the Queens: the Royal kind and the Maritime kind. She was a student of the History of European Royal Families and knew more than any of us ever appreciated about them.…
Aboard the Crystal Symphony-South Pacific
Aboard the Crystal Symphony-South Pacific Position: 34.06.278 South Latitude, 175.59.312 West Longitude 2g My original plan was to put some of Birgitta’s ashes at the deepest place possible in the South Pacific on my way to New Zealand. Bad weather…
The Crystal Symphony
The Crystal Symphony On October 28th I embarked on the Crystal Symphony for a cruise to New Zealand. The 16 day cruise made one stop in Hawaii on November 2nd and continued to NZ on the following day. The symphony…
Tea Time on the QM2
A Champagne Toast to the Contessa. Sunday, December 28th. It was tea time on the QM2. I proceeded to the Queens Room at the rear of the ship and ordered tea. The British are known for their tea times. Their…
Matanui our New Zealand Home
Matanui We parked next to the pier. I was accompanied by my daughter: Suzanne, granddaughter: Chanelle and Juergen and Dorle Hacker. We had come to place a small portion of Birgitta’s ashes in the water just in…
Kerikeri New Zealand
KERIKERI NEW ZEALAND On one of your trips on the Queen Elizabeth we met a gentleman from New Zealand. He was part of the crew, his job was presenting the entertainers. During a conversation, Birgitta asked what we…
More Thoughts from Loon
Five miles north of out condo there is an old friend. One I met in 1938 the year Birgitta was born and I was just seven years old: The Indian Head. In those years we traveled to visit my fathers…
Loon
We always referred to our New Hampshire place as “Loon” after the nearby mountain and the haunting bird cry. This 3Br Condo has been a haven for the past 20 years: spring and fall. Next to “Vallby”, Birgitta’s Swedish summer…
Paris
It is here I met my lovely Contessa for the first time. But, it was not that simple. We were but two of a group of six friends both in love with someone else. Fate has a way of changing…
Dublin
I decided to take a short break from my task for Birgitta and visit the country of my ancestors. Both my fathers family (The Walsh’s) and my mothers family (The Dolan’s) were Irish. I have never had the urge Birgitta…