Life in the USA - 2020-2021

2020
February kicked off with the joy of renewing our long-expired Swiss passports. Typically, this would have meant a trip to Atlanta (and a full day lost to airports and traffic), but the Swiss consulate’s Mobile Processing Unit showed up in Dallas and spared us the hassle. We handled everything online, and voilà—new passports, complete with a microchip holding all our biometric data. High-tech enough to make James Bond jealous.

In March, we flew to California and joined Anina and Jeremy for a Lake Tahoe getaway. Anina’s longtime friend Lily joined too, and we all squeezed into a two-bedroom VRBO in Truckee. We skied Sugar Bowl, Alpine Meadows, and Squaw Valley. Squaw, with its Olympic history and beautifully groomed long runs, stole my heart. Back at the rental, our in-house chefs, Ursi and Anina, spoiled us with Hungarian beef stew and Swiss fondue. Skiing all day and feasting all night—what could top that?

By April, COVID-19 was everywhere in the news and was officially labeled a pandemic. Our evenings revolved around media updates and Dr. Anthony Fauci’s calm-but-serious briefings.

May turned me into a part-time landscaper. I dug up our side yard, installed drainage pipes to handle pool overflow and water from the gutters. I used leftover stones to spruce up the pool equipment area. My back wasn’t thrilled, but the yard looked good.

June found me knee-deep in HOA projects. I tackled the creek walkway drainage, then sat at my desk writing a 40-page HOA Handbook that covered everything from board duties and contracts to innovative irrigation systems and gate repairs. Just when I thought I’d earned a break, our long-planned three-week hiking trip to Scotland was canceled by COVID restrictions. That one stung.

In July, I turned my attention to insurance—reviewed every policy and walked away with better homeowners and car coverage. That same month, I sold my 2016 Prius and treated myself to a shiny new 2020 model. It came with Apple CarPlay, modern safety features, and a 54 MPG rating (though I remain skeptical). By fall, we had to cancel our annual Sanibel Island trip due to hurricane safety concerns. Another disappointment, but better safe than sorry.

Meanwhile, California wildfires were raging. Anina and Jeremy had to evacuate, and for days it seemed their house was gone. By a miracle, it survived, though the forest and many neighbors’ homes did not. They lived and worked from their camper van in Jeremy’s warehouse until utilities were restored—tough times, but handled with resilience.

August brought smaller joys. The dwarf fountain grass by our pool matured beautifully, adding charm to the backyard. I also helped a Swiss friend in Keller document her sprinkler system. Our progress hit a wall (literally) when we discovered a buried sprinkler valve under the backyard deck—thanks, careless builders.

In September, we treated ourselves to an LG 65” 4K OLED Smart TV. The picture clarity was breathtaking—hopefully it lasts a decade, or at least until TVs start cooking dinner too.

October 26th sticks in my memory: our good friends Beni and Elisabeth sold their Idaho home, and on the very same day that Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed to the US Supreme Court—quite a day of transitions, big and small.

November brought a new roof, courtesy of our insurance. Ursula took this opportune moment to replace the gutters and selected a dark brown trim that made our Tudor-style house pop. The roofers did a stellar job.

December finally brought family cheer. Despite COVID, both kids came home for Christmas. Anina cut and colored Ursula’s hair like a pro. Andreas whipped up rabbit and chicken stock. Ursula added her famous beef stew and Chinese fondue, and one evening we indulged in Swiss raclette. To top it off, Avery gifted me a pair of hand-knit socks. Cozy, warm, and heartfelt—it was the perfect holiday.

2021
I started the year by doing some digital housecleaning: closed my Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram accounts, and stepped down from the HOA board after four years of volunteer service. January was mild, and on the 14th, we got our first COVID vaccinations. A week later, my neck revolted with severe pain that required an orthopedic injection and massage therapy. Slowly, I worked my way back to normal.

February, however, was anything but normal. Texas got hit by an unprecedented freeze, dropping to –2.2°F. Pipes froze, rolling blackouts struck, and thousands of homes were damaged. Ours somehow made it through intact—pure luck, I think.

By April, life steadied again. I joined the Geezer Group for a trip to Huntsville, TX. We visited the Sam Houston Memorial and cemetery, then knocked out a 6.2-mile hike in the state park. As usual, I carried the first-aid kit—always prepared. (https://youtu.be/O725UkvkFxk)

May brought a sweet surprise: Andreas showed up for Mother’s Day, and we celebrated at Sushi Sam. He shared plans to buy his first home in early 2022, which was fascinating news indeed.

In June, our friend Conny Büchele from Rolex Mexico stayed with us for three days and got her J&J vaccine at CVS. It was a treat to reminisce about Rolex days. Later that month, my eye surgeon worked magic again, performing a procedure that sharpened my vision and made colors pop again.

July was for adventure. Ursula and I headed to Angel Fire, New Mexico, with our neighbors Steve and Melody. We hiked cool mountain trails, picked bolete mushrooms, and visited Taos. On the way home, we couldn’t resist stopping at Amarillo’s Big Texan Steak Ranch—because who can drive past that? The trip was a refreshing escape from pandemic monotony. (https://youtu.be/lqJt8PPZCXs)

August turned Texas into an oven—hot and humid. HOA sprinkler problems ate up my time, and I also endured a colonoscopy followed by a seven-day cleansing diet. Meanwhile, in Nepal, remote valleys were struggling with COVID. I joined forces with Swiss friends to supply rice to 70 families in Sindhupalchok. Every donated dollar went straight to food and transport—zero overhead. That felt good.

At the end of August, we lost my brother-in-law, Gerhard Kneppeck, after years with Parkinson’s. Gerhard was full of joy and humor—always behind the wheel of a fast BMW, always savoring good food. A baker by trade, he and my sister Elisabeth built successful businesses. Ursula and I even accompanied them on their honeymoon camping hike through the Swiss Alps—an unforgettable memory. He and Elisabeth were also Anina’s godparents.

September took us west to Henderson, NV, to visit our longtime friends Bernhard and Elisabeth Schafroth after their move from Idaho. From there, we went on to Healdsburg to see Anina and Jeremy. Still living above Mill Creek in a secluded home, their landlords, Margaret and Grant, gifted us produce and wine for my birthday. Jeremy showed us his booming camper van outfitting business—VanLand—where he was juggling five projects at once. We later rented a vacation home in Sea Ranch, hiked the rugged Pacific coast, and enjoyed a Spanish omelet breakfast whipped up by Anina and Jeremy. (https://youtu.be/MSYm9MIaQH4)

That same month, tragedy struck closer to home. Our HOA landscaper, Robert Maldonado, passed away from COVID while visiting family in Mexico. Only 46, leaving behind a wife, young daughter, and two college-age kids—his loss was devastating to our gated community.

October meant another Geezer Group trip, this time to Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas. We hiked the Yellow Rock Trail, stayed in cozy cabins, and capped the days with BBQ dinners of bratwurst and chicken. The laughter and camaraderie were the real highlights. (https://youtu.be/e7imoyspYa4)

November 29th, we packed up for three weeks on Sanibel Island. COVID kept some friends away, but Hans and Therese joined us for the second week. Together, we explored the Naples Botanical Gardens. Later, Andreas and Nichole visited us for a long weekend, complete with a boat trip to Cayo Costa. That was so much fun! (https://youtu.be/0hmCsAxqdv4)

December wrapped up the year with big news: Andreas closed on his first home in San Antonio. He and Nichole, along with Keira, joined us in Keller for Christmas. Having the whole family together, happy and healthy, felt like the greatest gift of all. Soon after, Anina, Jeremy, Avery, and Nina escaped to Tulum for a week of well-deserved relaxation.

The year ended in a swirl of political turbulence and a soaring (and suspiciously frothy) stock market. But looking back, despite losses and challenges, I felt grateful—for family, for health, and for the resilience that carried us through.

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