April 2, 2018 Astrid the Red and Bjorn the Light Catcher had two sons, the elder one was named Olaf the White for his light complexion, and the younger was Snorri the Fair-Haired because of his long locks. Olaf grew up to be a strong man and resembled his father. Snorri, big for his twelveContinue reading “The Gift of Snow”
Author Archives: ajtanek
The Longest Day
Day 1 March 31 and/or April 1 At 9:37 p. m. EST, sitting on an obscenely fuchsia colored plane somewhere over the northern Atlantic, Astrid asked herself, “How did I get here?” She used to ask herself that question a lot in the years after she moved from her humble bucolic home in north centralContinue reading “The Longest Day”
Prologue to An Icelandic Saga
Everywhere I go, on plane, train or auto, a story goes with me, playing as a backdrop to my senses, giving an enhanced meaning to the lay of the land before my eyes. So, after plans were finalized for an adventure* to Iceland, I made a trip to the library. “That’s what you read to get ready forContinue reading “Prologue to An Icelandic Saga”
The Differences
Tuesday, June 20, 2017 The next morning, AJ sat at the desk jotting down details onto her notebook, details which, after sleep and a hot shower, trickled back to her mind, ran up to the present, then to the future to cover the day\’s planned activity: leaving. It would be a long flight back filled with theContinue reading “The Differences”
Out of the Fairy Pools and Into Rushing Waters
Monday, June 19, 2017 The family slept late. A grey, gloomy, raining sky greeted them as they walked out of the door of 11 Stormy Hill Road. But a hot breakfast at the Arriba Cafe in Portree warmed their stomachs. B and TwoSon ate sugar-studded waffles; AJ had what the English called a “full breakfast,”: BlackContinue reading “Out of the Fairy Pools and Into Rushing Waters”
Hillwalking and Roaddriving
Sunday June 18, 2017 Early next morning, after snatching a light breakfast in the dining room of the B&B, the family drove off into clear blue skies over the Isle of Skye countryside. They were going to see an old man on a mountain. Only a few cars dotted the parking lot to the trail-head.Continue reading “Hillwalking and Roaddriving”
Into The Otherworld
Saturday June 16, 2017 The family left Letterfinlay hotel amidst rain and grey skies which continued during the two-hour drive to Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. The route to the Isle of Skye snaked between sloping mountains lush with Mountain Laurel, wild pink Foxglove, yellow Scotch broom, and farmed pines, planted thickly in neat lines. In someContinue reading “Into The Otherworld”
Misty Mountains, Midges and Magic Trains
Friday, June 15, 2017 AJ slept so soundly in the big soft bed at Glenmore Country House B&B that when she woke, it took a while to remember how she got there. When she mentally clawed back to her presence of mind, she smiled. Breakfast was served in the sitting room, with fruit, homemade bread,Continue reading “Misty Mountains, Midges and Magic Trains”
Human Law, Left Driving, and Churches, Castles and Homes
Thursday, June 14, 2017 After packing suitcases, tidying their London flat and finding and boarding the correct train at Marylebone Station, the family sat down in their assigned seats and let out a collective sigh. Soon they started to move, the carriage rocking gently as the train crawled out of the station. Marylebone Station When AJContinue reading “Human Law, Left Driving, and Churches, Castles and Homes”
Coronation Spoons, Black Jewels, and Dead People in the Church Basement
Wednesday June 13, 2017 AJ, B and TwoSon were back on the Tube early the next morning, rubbing elbows with soulless-looking, rushed people on their way to work, nary a smile or smirk among them. Because of a fire in Grenfell Tower in Central London, trains were being diverted and the Tube was especially crowded. Continue reading “Coronation Spoons, Black Jewels, and Dead People in the Church Basement”
Not I 