Here Tomiko is smiling and waiting
waiting for me to take her home
She was already discharged in the morning
after Herning had done another scan
and Skejby said “great – she’s ready to go home”
A little late by the way – I didn’t go to Herning until 15:00
there were some things I had to sort out first
at my office
and while I took a quick shower before hitting the road
put the coffee machine on to make a pot of coffee
or so I thought . . .
But Tomiko preferred to get into the car
where she felt at home
and that was good enough for me
*
We weren’t in a hurry – no one was waiting for us
so we spent a couple of very pleasant hours together
In Vestergade (Herning) I just wanted another photo
of the statue of the wandering merchant
with many clothes and small items on his back
So both my mother and us children opened our eyes wide
when he showed his wares on the kitchen table
during my childhood in Sønder Vium in 1956 and 57
The statue is now housed at Herning Klædefabrik Museum
as a reminder of the times when Denmark began to flourish
starting on the moorlands in the Herning-Ikast area
especially in the post-World War II era
in the 1950s-60s
*
Very well illustrated in Ikast
with a very large rock in the middle of a roundabout
Why am I talking about these things from the old days
especially the Ikast-Herning area
everybody will understand – not a long time from now
(2019)
* * *
That day I had to check out the location of a few places
mainly in Ikast
and I showed Tomiko the building in Ikast
where I – at 7 years old –
on vacation with Grandma and Grandpa
had the greatest experience of my life
of my whole life
Grandma had bought me a movie ticket
For the first time in my life
I saw moving pictures
namely a Father-of-Four film
I was completely mesmerized
that day I will never forget
thank you – dearest Grandma
* * *
And finally – with pleasure
we could continue heading west
to our own home
once again with my wife by my side