2017 – 2019 United States of America

Anina’s husband, Jeremy, had been working in California for nearly a year, commuting regularly back to Denton to be with Anina and their daughters, Avery and Nina. It was a temporary arrangement—the plan was for the whole family to move west once Anina finished her studies. In March, they listed their Shady Shores home, and Anina moved in with us. Before closing, the house became a revolving door of contractors: roofers, plumbers, and foundation repair crews. I checked on the work and even lent a hand restoring the living room’s wood flooring. Today, that house belongs to their friends Jimmy and Bonny Vaughn—a job well done for the next owners!

2017
In May, after three intense years at TWU, Anina graduated as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. We were bursting with pride. We threw a celebration party at our house, surrounded by her classmates and closest friends. Just a week later, Jeremy rented a truck, and they drove west, loaded with their household items, to start a new life in Healdsburg, California.

June brought a different kind of personal milestone: I underwent cataract surgery in both eyes. The results were remarkable—20/20 vision, and thanks to multifocal lenses, glasses may soon be a thing of the past. I felt like a superhero seeing clearly again!

By July, we were eager to visit Anina and Jeremy. Their rental home was tucked away in Mill Creek Valley, about 15 minutes east of Healdsburg. A long, forested driveway led to a small clearing with three homes, including the owners, Margaret and Grant’s, who maintained the most beautiful flower and vegetable garden I’ve ever seen. We rented a VRBO in Monte Rio, went hiking and canoeing, and toured local wineries. Northern California’s climate suited us perfectly—we were in love. (https://youtu.be/GW2LkuxI5vQ)

August took us back to the Swiss Alps with a group of friends: John Barlow, his daughter Jaimie, our neighbors Steve and Melody, and my good friend Bernhard. Despite a few initial clouds and rain, the weather turned gorgeous, with sunny days in the high 60s. We tackled hikes to the Blümlisalp and Gspaltenhorn huts—tough climbs, but well worth it. Sharing the Alps with our American friends made the experience even richer. (https://youtu.be/fdlecQ9GxWE)

Right after, Ursula and I jetted off to Iceland for a week. Despite its Arctic location, the Gulf Stream gives the island a surprisingly mild climate. The scenery was otherworldly—ice-capped mountains, steaming geothermal vents, and volcanic landscapes. Reykjavik even uses the natural steam to heat the entire city. We stayed downtown, joined bus tours, and explored the Golden Circle, which features greenhouses, massive waterfalls, and the famous spot where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. With only 336,000 residents but over two million tourists expected that year, Iceland was bustling. Safety wasn’t a concern—the crime rate is practically zero—but wow, a pizza at $34? That one left a mark. The highlight, however, was seeing the Northern Lights on our last night—a truly magical experience.
(https://youtu.be/POJU9WGYclA)

After Iceland, we spent time in Switzerland. Ursula stayed with Wally while I joined my senior hiking friends in Graubünden, basing ourselves in Flims, where Hans keeps a trailer. Rain couldn’t dampen our spirits—we hiked daily, and on the last day, when the skies cleared, we even climbed the Pinut rock wall in just an hour.

October brought Wally to visit. In November, we headed to Sanibel Island for a couple of weeks, joined by his girlfriend, Marli, from Brazil. Later, Wally joined us in Dallas for Christmas, and our surprise gift for him was a NASCAR race package at the Texas Motor Speedway. Watching him race at 160 mph and finish second? Thrilling! (https://youtu.be/Hl3pgTOUj58)

2018
In March, we rented a VRBO at Lake Tahoe for a ski week with Anina, Jeremy, and a few friends. Spring skiing at Heavenly, NorthStar, and Kirkwood was fantastic, though the rental had a rodent problem that kept us up at night. Fortunately, the owner refunded us.

The 4 Musketeers
Around this time, a close friendship developed among three former Rolex colleagues and me — we affectionately dubbed ourselves the Four Musketeers.

Bernhard Stoeber worked in the same capacity as I did at Rolex USA, managing the Beverly Hills Service Operation. He later ran Technical Operations in New York before moving on to become Zone Manager at Rolex headquarters in Geneva. Eventually, Bernhard accepted a position with Rolex in China as Manager of Technical Training. Originally from Germany, he has a deep passion for the watchmaking profession and is an exceptional teacher. I first met Bernhard in 1984, when he was working for Omega. In 2000, he was the one who believed I could be the right fit for Rolex Dallas. Highly knowledgeable in horology, witty, and great company, Bernhard is both a professional and a friend one truly enjoys spending time with.

Hans-Ruedi Stoll worked with me at Rolex headquarters in 1969 when we were both being trained for positions abroad. I eventually ended up in New York, and he in Hong Kong. In 2000, we met again in Geneva, where he managed the Department of Technical Documentation and Tools. Hans-Ruedi has always had a good sense of humor and was a delight to be around. An avid sportsman, he enjoyed skiing, swimming and bicycling, but his real passion was precision rifle shooting. He served as President of the Small-Caliber Shooting Club of Nyon.

Gianfranco Brunner served as World Service Coordination Manager at Rolex headquarters in Geneva. Fluent in several languages — German, French, English, and Italian — he earned a degree in Business Administration and later refined his skills at the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies. We often worked closely together to resolve customer service issues. Gianfranco is a consummate professional, a joy to be around, blessed with an excellent sense of humor, and an enthusiastic motorcycle rider.

Over the years, our friendship deepened. We would typically meet once a year for dinner and conversation in the Geneva region, catching up and reminiscing about our experiences and the many years we spent working for the Crown. Each time we meet, it feels to me as though the four of us are perfectly in sync — an effortless camaraderie that’s rare and special. Even in retirement, we continue to stay in touch, exchanging ideas, information, and occasionally sharing family photos.

April brought another Geezer hiking trip—this time to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and Lake Tacoma. Despite a few hiccups (Jim nearly wore himself out), the outing was a success. Most of us are now in our 70s, except Chad, our 50-year-old Hawaiian fitness coach, but the stories we share keep everyone young at heart.

In May, Ursula and I traveled to Morocco with Hans and Farida Vogler. While Ursula and Farida explored Marrakesh’s museums and markets, Hans and I attempted to climb Mt. Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains. Led by our guide Mustafa, with cook Abdul and his mule, we nearly reached the summit before heavy snow forced a retreat—a climb we’ll never forget.

That July, we visited Anina and Jeremy again in Healdsburg. Days were filled with hiking, blackberry picking, and wine tasting. Anina treated us to dinner at the Culinary Institute of America, prepared by students—a truly memorable experience. Back in Texas, Ursula underwent shoulder surgery and began a challenging but determined recovery.

October was another Geezer hike—this time exploring the Texas Hill Country and Lost Maples State Park. We reconnected with friends Wolf and Shalmir, who prepared an outstanding BBQ. To mark the group’s 10th hike, I created a special video we all enjoyed after dinner, projected onto a big outdoor screen on the side of their luxury camper van. (https://youtu.be/-FktSgqU7kQ)

That November, we returned to Sanibel Island with Anina & Jeremy, Kurt & Renata, and our Canadian friends Pam & David. A cruise to Useppa Island and Ursula’s early Thanksgiving dinner made the trip especially memorable. (https://youtu.be/LdUUBbyjdyc)

2019
February took us to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, thanks to Kurt and Heidi lending us their condo. Nestled at 1,900 meters in the mountains, the town’s climate was perfect, with a thriving community of American retirees. Afterwards, we drove to Guanajuato for a short visit before heading home.

March meant a visit to Andreas in San Antonio. Fresh from Peru, he introduced us to his new girlfriend and partner, Nichole, and her daughter, Keira, at the Whitney Museum. On Sunday, Andreas hosted a fondue at Restaurant Gwendolyn, where he was happily working while exploring new career directions.

Later that month, our Swiss friend Hans Bernhard visited Texas on his way to California. Curious about life here, he joined us for a weekend on a ranch near Palo Pinto, toured the Fort Worth Stockyards, and even explored downtown Dallas by Segway. Hans, a retired Swissair architect, shares our passion for hiking and biking. (https://youtu.be/apefFkozJuQ)

April 3rd was a sad day: my brother called from Switzerland to tell me that our Mom had passed away at the age of 93. We held her memorial during our planned European trip—a bittersweet yet comforting way to honor her.

That spring, we traveled through Europe: tulip fields in Amsterdam, a Rhine River cruise to Basel, a visit to my sister Elisabeth in Bad-Säckingen, and then on to Wally in Wängi. On May 1st, we celebrated Ursula and Wally’s 70th birthdays with friends at a horse training center in the Black Forest. Shortly after, we held our mother’s memorial in Uetendorf, followed by a warm family evening at Herbert and Annamarie’s home. The trip ended with a week-long drive back to Amsterdam, passing through Alsace, Luxembourg, Brussels, and Antwerp—a road trip to remember. (https://youtu.be/IluC_XkeVh0)

HOA projects consumed in July: new motors for the entry gate, emergency strobe system approvals with the Fire Department, and aging sprinkler controllers. At home, I added new steps to our pool deck, making it both practical and safe.

August brought a nine-day adventure to Glacier National Park with Steve and Melody. Based in Columbia Falls, we hiked stunning trails, feasted on wild mushrooms and huckleberries, and spotted black bears, elk, moose, rams, mountain goats, and marmots. Returning home, we discovered a hit-and-run driver had taken out our mailbox. Shit happens when you’re not around! (https://youtu.be/PseGZiPa5nE)

September had us house-sitting for Anina and Jeremy while they visited Vancouver Island. We enjoyed wine tastings, hikes, and sampled fresh Riesling juice at Gustafson Winery. Jeremy had just started a new job converting Sprinter vans into campers—an exciting new chapter for them.

In October, I reunited with business colleague, Ernesto Rolo, in New York. We reminisced about our 14 years at Ebel while catching up with his wife, Melida, and daughter Amanda. We also met with former CFO Zev Friedman. The next day, we drove to Lake George to visit Claude Stehle, Ebel’s former workshop manager, and then continued to Vermont to see Hans and Therese Schrag, former Tag-Heuer service managers. The couple now enjoys a peaceful countryside retirement on a beautiful piece of property.

That same month, another Geezer hike took us to Mineral Wells and Possum Lake State Park. Instead of the usual Sunday dinner, we held a BBQ after the all-important “planning meeting”—priorities, after all! (https://youtu.be/-jkkRRALQc8)

November meant another Sanibel Island trip, driving 20+ hours from Texas in our trusty Prius. Crossing the Causeway Bridge never loses its magic. Our Shell Island Beach Club timeshare, overlooking the Gulf, felt like paradise. Days were filled with long walks, cycling, swimming, and visits with Canadian friends Pam & David.

Christmas was warm and joyful at home in Keller. Both Andreas and Anina joined us. On December 23rd, we went to see Cats, and Ursula prepared her traditional Swiss meat and cheese fondue. The beef tenderloin from Costco was particularly tender that year. We also passed along a sizable inheritance from my Mom to Andreas and Anina, helping them take meaningful steps toward their financial security.

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