GOOD GOD GUDDING! - GOTLAND, SWEDEN - DAY 20

I wake up and am put to work immediately. There’s a whole massive production going on in the kitchen to make a giant omelette for the family for breakfast with Lady GAGA blasting on the radio.

MONA asks me: Have you seen her film?

Ove takes this idea upon himself and dad helps him. This takes Mona by surprise as she must have control over her kitchen.

I’d never want to step on Mona’s toes, but it’s a bit funny to watch her scramble around...Pun intended. Admittedly after I’m finished chopping potatoes, I chase Ove around to clean dishes and help empty the dishwasher.

After breakfast and showers, I ask Roger, or Thor, if I can take a photo of him reading about “himself” in Neil Gaiman’s Norse mythologies. He also shows me his half sisters on his phone. One does rock climbing, kayaking, and motorcycle riding- A total badass Viking. The other has a job running social media and is more of an "indoors girl" as he calls it. The Norwegians are true Vikings, and all have half siblings up the wazoo. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m suddenly related to all of Norway.

We clear out and take the sports cars into Visby. I think the Swedish Tina has a thing for the Italian Romeo (Alfa Romeo). The Swedes and Italians just love each other. I’m offered to drive Tina into Visby, but really I’ve only driven her a little bit. It’s better if Roger drives her. Now, just picture an oversized Viking god driving a little classic tin car from ‘69 down the roads of Gotland. I’ll help you...It looks exactly like Mr. Incredible driving home from work in the Pixar film, “The Incredibles”.

Åke and Ove take Åke’s sports car and leave us in the dust. Dad, Roger and I take Tina, and the Aunties take the Volvo. We drive off to the old city but not before Roger loads in his box of Capri Sun.

We pass the strawberry fields again and learn that jordgubbar (strawberries in Swedish), is Jorberrj in Norwegian- Almost the same.

When we arrive in Visby, the first thing Ove notices is that the trash cans are solar powered to compress and it. It even gives you applause when you throw stuff away. It’s so stupid but they’re recycling is so good! Along the way I found Space Invader, the street artist. I’ve now found his work in Gotland Sweden, Rome Italy, Paris France, and Los Angles, CA USA.

We come to a rock climbing gym, and Ove, the big kid he is, wants to do it. The other boys are out so I’m joining in. They’re all listening to Nirvana and 90s rock while climbing- My perfect playlist. Grunge never dies. It’s Åke’s treat, which I'm very grateful for. Ove doesn't want to climb the wall- just boulder. Even though I'm afraid of heights, the challenge is too tempting, and I persuade him to join me on the wall. Since we're inexperienced, the wall climb is on the house.

We head back out, and I try to find something for Julia and Tove's baby but there wasn’t anything good. I also looked for torques from my favorite jewelry shop in Gotland, Historiska Smyken, but nothing fit. Mona eventually takes us out for tapas. Tusen tack familj! We pile into the cars, and drive home along the coast. I forgot that I saved a special bottle from Gotland’s brewery. I asked Dad to keep his bottle. It has GOTLAND on it so it’s very special to me. Funny- Two empty bottles of alcohol coming home with me on this trip, and I haven’t drank either. We pass a bunch of classic cars and Tina fits right in. There’s an Old car show happening in Visby.

I felt so bad for dad, his foot is really hurting and he said he’ll even see a doctor in the States- you know that’s serious! I’m glad we left when we did.

The family rests at home, but Ove and Roger want to see the harbor near home. I’m told “God Gud Gudding!” is an expression which means, Good God Gudding! We all drink Capri Sun on the short ride over. The boys want to walk home to get their steps, and have me drive home. At first I think they’re kidding, but as it happens, they get out of the car and remind me of the H shape for moving the stick shift. Oh SHIFT! I stall twice but in the third go, I give our girl a bit more gas and leave the boys behind! I’m able to shift to third and drive Tina home all by myself!! I was rather surprised and proud of myself. I screamed in elation out the window, and honked proudly as I came into the driveway. I still prefer stick shift over automatic.

At dinner, Ove makes a special speech in Norwegian, “Emilie, it is because of you, finding us in Norway that we are all sitting together at the table today as a family. You stole my heart, during your visit. This is hand made from my mother”. I’m presented with hand-made socks- Just like Farmor’s. I’m overcome with a warm sensation in my heart. This is such a sweet gesture, and I’m very grateful.

I wish Dad stayed longer at the table, but he sticks to his schedule, and goes to bed shortly after. It’s so bizarre to see Ove tells stories. It’s exactly like Dad- full theatrics and entertainment. It’s definitely a Gudding thing. We turn on the radio with more Lady GAGA on the airwaves singing “Bad Romance”.

ÅKE turns to me: Have you seen her film?

I call it quits after faster Gebba goes to bed.

Mona booked the morning ferry and I'm coming back with the Norwegians- I’ll show them around Stockholm while leaving our bags in T-Centralen and meet up with Julia afterwards to sleep.