Frogs!

In the fine McFadden tradition (actually Colin's tradition) of posting pictures of food, I hereby submit these wonderful frogs that are apparently a Stockholm tradition. Klas and I stopped in an old cafe that he used to visit as a child in the 40s where not much has changed and the frogs are famous. He told me stories about life in Sweden during the war when the Germans were allowed to run their trains through the country, and how his father was in the underground fighting against the Germans.

This has been quite a busy day, starting with my lecture. Immediately afterwards, I exchanged my laptop for my canvas bag with notebook, camera, and purse, and Klas and I took the bus to have lunch with the President of the Swedish Seniors' Association (also the VP of the European Senior Citizens Union) and the Vice Mayor of Stockholm in charge of the "Elderly Division." They take aging quite serious here, being the oldest country in Europe. By 2010 they say that 20% of Stockholm will be 65+ and currently 5% of the entire country is 80+. The lunch was wonderful (another lovely fish stew) and the conversation was very stimulating. Then we went to the Stockholm Gerontology Research Center where we met with two researchers who gave me a great summary of all their research programs. We talked intensely for an hour. Klas and I then walked about in the city, stopping for frogs and coffee before he dropped me off at the apartment of Dr. Valerie de Marinis. I've never met her, but we both serve on the editorial committee of a journal and we babbled about psych stuff for two hours. She and I then took a bus and met up with Klas again and another woman who is a retired journalist -- another fascinating conversation and very good food at a fancy restaurant. Tomorrow, I'm meeting him at the Central train station (I'll catch a bus close to where I'm staying) and we'll go to Uppsala where he has several meetings lined up -- plus some sight-seeing.

The internet connection has been a bit dicey tonight and I had to pay again even though my time wasn't up. However, I wanted to post this, and also write a note of condolence to John about his TT... I'll be trying to call him later, too.