There have been so many moments in Denmark that I have wanted so desperately to just freeze time and remain in the happiness offered to me. It is not just the exciting moments that I will miss but even the quiet nights at home, drinking hot tea with Brandon. Tonight was one of those nights...I sat here writing my blog and listening to jazz while Brandon sat next to me reading his book...and I just thought to myself "this is happiness in such a pure form." Something in me has certainly changed; grown. I feel so blessed to have this collection of experiences. I hope everyone is doing well and also on a spiritual journey of happiness and health. Sorry for the gap in time since the last time I wrote. I regret not taking the time to place words on the experiences and will do my best to catch up. So hopefully I can connect the dots and trace the lines to the things I haven't written about yet...
This picture was taken on a ride in Tivoli! We finally had a chance to go :-) Notice the new additions to Brandon and my wardrobe? SCARVES!! We are officially dressing more "Danish." Tivoli is a very old and famous amusement park and garden. But it isn't just an amusement park, it has everything from a concert hall to the longest saltwater aquarium in Europe. Tivoli is in it's Christmas season right now and it was absolutely beautiful. The entire park was illuminated with Christmas lights and Christmas trees. Brandon and I walked around, riding the rides and trying to get some good pictures of the park. (but my camera batteries died!) It was freezing! And even after some hot chocolate and warming our hands by some hot coals, I was starting to think I was getting frostbite on my feet. I kept telling myself that my dad would be so disappointed in my choice of shoes! So I accepted my cold feet as my punishment for my dumb shoe choice. :-)
Isn't this beautiful?! This is a picture of Tivoli Gardens. This part of the park is Asian inspired and has a very serene aura. Chinese lanterns, lit with candles, are delicately sprinkled throughout the trees. This lake not only reflects the lights that drape it but also the fireworks. Brandon and I had a really great time. We ended the night by sharing a big bowl of Chinese chicken soup and drinking some hot sake. :-)
We took this picture from the top of the Ferris wheel. Right after that we went on a ride that was much higher and it really gave us a spectacular view over, not only Tivoli, but the city of Copenhagen. It was one of the those moments where, I just turned to Brandon and said, "we are soaring over Copenhagen! We are in Denmark, flying through the air! Who would have ever thought this is where we would be at this moment in our lives?!" I told myself to never forget that feeling.
I wasn't joking when I said it was freezing and we had to warm up by hot coals. This was by far the COLDEST I have ever been. Brandon was addicted to stopping by these pits of hot coals and warming up. I was holding my hands over the coals, with my gloves still on, and then I went to put my hands on Brandon's face to warm up his cheeks...and I guess cheap gloves are pretty flammable because my gloves got scorched...Brandon's cheeks got a little too warm as well! :-(
I can't believe I let so much time past since the last time I wrote. This picture is from a ferry ride we took to Germany. This was the first time Brandon had been on a ferry and the first time I had been to Germany. (Brandon was born in Bitburg, Germany but this was his first time back to the country.) Unfortunately, we didn't get to do very much exploring in Germany but it was still great being able to go. Our next trip will be to a city called Malmo in Sweden. It is a little over an hour away by train. Last night Brandon and I went with the coach of the younger basketball team to Copenhagen to watch them play. As we were driving through the city trying to find the gym, I couldn't help but be slightly hypnotized by the city ambiance and peering in all the windows of the houses and apartments. One of the things Brandon and I enjoy about riding our bikes at night is getting a glimpse into the homes and lives of the Danish. Unlike the states, almost every window here offers a great view right into the homes. Many of the homes here are lit by bright white geometric danish designed lighting. It has become a unique trademark in the windows we see. There are moments where it really starts to sink in that I am living in Europe and having an experience that will forever become a part of who I am. Last night as I was going down a steep hill on my bike, the icy breeze tingling my face, and it felt like I was traveling on private winds, being carried through a world only open to me. There are so many pieces of an experience that are edible if you are just willing to take the risk in tasting it; indulging in it. But most importantly, remembering to savor it. It is easy to forget to savor an experience. Hopefully, the taste of Europe will remain with me for a long time. 
I guess all of Brandon's great games and impressive stats have gone straight to his head!!! :-) He has been doing so well here. He is the second leading scorer in the entire league and fourth in the league in assists. Yet, it isn't just what he is doing on the court that is impressing the community of Naestved, it is also very much what he does off the court. He coaches a younger team, works with young kids at a recreation center and also helps out with community events. Even though I am extremely proud of his success on the court and am very excited to hear people say he is the best player in Denmark, it is all the compliments about his character and who he is as a person that make me smile the most. He has a lot to be proud of and I hope that this journey he is on lasts a long time. He deserves to have success and happiness. There is a great interview with Brandon that aired on t.v throughout Denmark. It is posted on the Internet and you can also watch one of his games that aired on t.v through this website. www.dk4sport.dk/videos/flow/player/index.php Just look for the game with "Team FOG Næstved" and if you see a link with Brandon Thomas that should be the interview. If you want to keep up with the games or how Brandon is doing, you can find information on www.nifbasket.dk/ - www.eurobasket.com/den/den.asp - www.basketligaen.dk/ -www.danskbasket.basket.dk/ -Look for anything with "Team FOG Næstved."
Here are a couple pictures from his last game. Hopefully I can get my camera to work when I am trying to take action shots so I can post some pictures from Brandon's future games. I am going to make an entry for each one of his games and maybe even get him to write a thing or two. I think it would nice for him to have something documented to look back on and be reminded of this phase of his life.
During the games Brandon gets a lot of support from the audience, often with a whole crowd of kids that chant his name and cheer for him. One night after they won a game, he was ambushed by an entire group of kids. The sweet thing is that Brandon knows all of them by name. My mom once told me that "even after we are gone, our reputation lives on, so take care of it." I think Brandon will leave Denmark with a really respectable reputation.
Brandon wore a headband during the entire game that read "Coach Frankel" in honor of his coach who was let go before the game.
This picture was taken at Mickey and Henrietta's apartment in Copenhagen. Mickey is one of Brandon's teammates. We have become pretty good friends with them. Mickey is the other American on the team and Henrietta just finished getting her law degree so there are a lot of interests in common. On this night we went over to their place for dinner and after a great homemade meal and wine, we went out in Copenhagen.
Henrietta and I after dinner :-) I am really glad that I have had the chance to get to know her because she is a really great person and I'm happy that I have made some friends while being here.
Brandon and Mickey posing for the camera before a night out... :-)
This is a picture of us by a street sculpture in the main square in Copenhagen. This picture was taken weeks ago because it is way too cold to be dressed like that now!
This a picture of a sculpture that emerges out of the vines along a school building. I had passed it dozens of times on my bike without even noticing it. And now it is one of my favorite statues that I have photographed.
This is a picture I took a while ago of the very first place Brandon took me to eat when I first got to Denmark. It is our favorite cafe for breakfast, on the rare occasions that we don't cook our own breakfast.
I love this tree...with its golden leaves. Winter breezes have now left this tree naked but it was a beautiful sight for a few weeks. I guess it's true that all good things must come to an end. Including this blog! It is getting late so I am going to get some sleep but I will be updating the blog tomorrow night after Brandon's game.
Thank you for caring and reading my blog...I miss and love you all very much!
With love, Rebecca
Random Writing...
I walk barefoot on the cold sidewalk of the city's skin
A pause between the end of night and the awakening of morning
Experiences become our greatest stories
A fixed horizon stalls change
Let the sun set slanted tonight
And I will applaud it for its creative bravery
This morning reminds me of you in an unusual way
That tingle I swallowed when I first kissed you still lines my stomach
I want to lie on your heart and make a snow angel in the elasticity of our love
And if the softness becomes rigid, I will chisel my devotion
Losing myself in you makes me slightly uncomfortable, possibly scared
I fear not all of me will get returned when things fall apart
There is a difference between...
Lying in the grass and being clothed by the stars
And resting in your sheets beneath stick-on stars on the ceiling
It's the difference between love and lust
A subtle difference at times…
Often a transition
