It started when Kurt in Sweden asked Kari's mother for some geneology of the family. Jannicke sent the geneology to him. Kari decided to say hello to him when we are in Sweden. She tried calling several times but couldn't get him so she almost gave up thinking that maybe he had was on vacation, moved, or worse died. (He was 93 years old.) Then Jannicke gave Kari the email address that she had for him. Kari sent a message and Kurt responded with an invitation to his home.
We took two trains to get to his apartment, crossing a beautiful lake to the island of Lidingö, and walking up a set off quiet back roads. We turned a corner and were in front of the entrance to Millesgården on the left which is a beautiful park of statues by Carl Milles (a famous sculpture), Foresta (a famous restaurant) on the right, and Kurt's apartment between the two.
We rang the bell and he met us. He took us to an apartment adjoining his where we met Irene Söderblom. Irene was just finishing watching the end of a movie. Kurt whispered that the actress in the movie was in fact Irene. Irene is now also 92 or 93 years old and had been in 17 movies that were made in the 1940's and 50's. She was a beautiful starring actress and is well recognized and admired today. She is frequently in social media (along with Kurt who accompanies her).
Kurt invited us to have dinner at the famous Foresta restaurant where we had an exquisite dinner of thick grilled salmon, grilled asparagus, out-of-world sauce, and new potatoes. The grilled taste with the sea salt was one of the best meals I have experienced. During the tourist season the restaurant is difficult to get in to, but that night we were early and also beat the crowd that is there even in the non-tourist season. The picture below is Kari and Kurt in the Restaurant.
After dinner, we returned to the apartment where Kurt showed us pictures of his family. Pictures of his mom, brothers, his son, etc. Afterwards while they were talking, I took this peaceful night shot from their apartment balcony.
Their balcony overlooks a bay where many ships come and go to other countries like Finland, Latvia, etc. Across the bay is also a very successful telescope retailing company that he started and is now run by his son. Their company building is now being demolished by Stockholm to enlarge the bay's commercial services.
I snapped this shot of Irene, Kurt, and Kari before we left. Kurt is amazingly phsically fit at 93 years old. And Kari says that he looks much like he did when she last saw him 50 years ago and she sees features of his mother in his face.
Our visit to Sweden has been an absolute delight mostly because of the wonderful people that we have met and because of the marvelous services that we have been blessed to do in the temple.
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