Life in the USA - 2022

2022

On January 9th, Anina and Jeremy finally caught a flight back to the U.S. after being quarantined in Cancún. Once home, they moved into a three-bedroom house in Healdsburg, CA. Just a week later, on the 16th, Ursula and I celebrated our 52nd anniversary with a wonderful sushi lunch.

On the 21st, Conny from Mexico City visited with her son, Lars, who came for his COVID booster shot. Now 11 years old, Lars has grown into a talented young boy. The last time I saw him, he was only three. We enjoyed rock climbing, ice skating, and even flying my drone together.

In April, Ursula and I took a nine-day vacation in Maui, Hawaii. We stayed in a condo in Kihei and used our rental car to explore the island daily. Highlights included the famous Road to Hana and watching the sunrise from the 10,000-foot summit of Haleakalā. (https://youtu.be/700S0hcciC4)

After Ursula’s 73rd birthday, we drove to San Antonio to visit Andreas. We kicked off our stay with a charming sushi dinner, then I set to work upgrading all the sprinkler heads on his property. We also enjoyed cooling off in the swimming pool.

On April 20th, I received sad news: my longtime Rolex colleague and friend, Hans-Ruedi Stoll, passed away. Our friendship began in 1969, when we were both trainees hoping for an overseas Rolex assignment. Hans-Ruedi spent many years in Hong Kong before returning to Geneva in 1990 to lead the After-Sale Service, Tools & Technical Information department. He was passionate about swimming, cycling, and rifle shooting, serving as president of the small-caliber shooting club in Nyon. Always fun and quick-witted, he will be missed.

May brought its own challenges. On the 26th, while parking at my usual lunch spot, Maki & Poke, my foot slipped—hitting the accelerator instead of the brake. The car lurched into the restaurant, smashing glass panels and damaging my Prius. Thankfully no one was hurt, but I was in shock. Insurance covered the $12,000+ repair bill (minus a $500 deductible) and provided a rental car for a month.

Just days later, on May 30th, Anina’s cat Moses passed away. We often looked after him when Anina and Jeremy traveled. He was a gentle, affectionate cat with a hunter’s spirit, and I miss him dearly.

In September, our neighbors Mike and Sue Lucas invited us—and another couple from Keller—to join them at their timeshare in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. The three-bedroom villa at the Westin Resort was the perfect base for a week of exploring. We shopped for picnic supplies, toured the island, and enjoyed dinner at Greengos in town. The highlight was a six-hour sailing and snorkeling trip aboard a 41-foot catamaran with Kenny and Susanne as our crew. We also hiked to Honeymoon Beach and Solomon Beach, spotting turtles, stingrays, and brilliantly colored fish. Other days were filled with card games, breathtaking sunsets, and more beach adventures. It was truly unforgettable—thank you, Mike and Sue! (https://youtu.be/rQ8QhUMWeOE)

Just four days after returning home, I tested positive for COVID-19. Ursula followed two days later. Thankfully, our vaccinations and boosters meant our symptoms were relatively mild. Ursula recovered in about two weeks, but mine dragged on for nearly a month.

Normally, November is when we spend three weeks at our Sanibel Island timeshare, but Hurricane Ian destroyed much of the island. Rebuilding will take years. Instead, we visited Anina and Jeremy in Healdsburg. Their charming 1895 farmhouse was once part of an Italian prune orchard, and a gas stove in the living room provides heat for the entire home. We enjoyed hikes around Lake Sonoma, rainy-day town walks, homemade pizza, a visit to Paradise Ridge Winery, and a gourmet dinner at the CIA in Napa. Anina showed us her physical therapy office, while Jeremy gave us a tour of his thriving camper van business, VanLand. We capped it off with a six-mile coastal hike along the Pacific and dinner at a Himalayan restaurant in Sebastopol. Northern California at its best! (https://youtu.be/gcD9yxtnsqs)

Thanksgiving was spent at home with our neighbors Cary and Nicoll. Ursula prepared her famous turkey roll with all the trimmings, while our guests brought delicious sides and desserts, including pumpkin and pecan pie. Conversation was lively—Cary is a lawyer, and Nicoll a painter and cancer counselor. I also learned that fenbendazole, a dog dewormer, is being explored as a non-FDA-approved cancer treatment, so I passed the information on to my nephew Daniel.

Christmas arrived during an arctic cold front that froze our refrigerator’s water line, though fortunately, it thawed without damage. Anina and Andreas arrived with their families on the 23rd. On Christmas Eve, we enjoyed our traditional Fondue Chinoise, complete with Andreas’s homemade broth and Ursula’s outstanding dips—my favorite being her pepper-spiced mayo-ketchup. The evening was made extra special when 11-year-old Keira offered a heartfelt Swiss-German blessing before the meal. Secret Santa gifted me alpaca socks and Snickers bars, while the grandchildren received books and silverware for their new homes. Ursula’s Swiss Christmas cookies were everyone’s favorite treat between meals. On the 26th, we all drove to Fort Worth to enjoy the Japanese Garden’s Light Expo—a magical finish to a joyful holiday. (https://youtu.be/ja6yj8_ln5M)

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