Life in the USA - 2023

2023

Snowboarding – February
We flew into Salt Lake City, where our good friends Bernhard and Elisabeth scooped us up and whisked us off to our condo in Park City. Anina and Jeremy were already there waiting—snow gear ready and smiles on. Jeremy and I strapped on our snowboards while the others clicked into skis, and off we went. Three glorious days of blue skies, first-class snow, and runs groomed so perfectly you almost felt guilty making tracks on them.

The evenings were just as good. On night two, Ursula treated us to a bubbling pot of homemade cheese fondue that left us all grinning (and a little too full). Ursula and Anina kept us fueled all around with home-cooked dinners and hearty sandwiches for lunch. Senior lift tickets ran $145 a day, which, believe it or not, was already a bargain thanks to Anina’s buddy pass that knocked it down from $180. At our age, that “senior” label finally pays off!

March 26–27, I dusted off my hiking boots and joined the “Geezers Group” for a two-day outing to Glen Rose, Texas. We trekked through Dinosaur Valley State Park—where you can literally step in dinosaur footprints—and then toured the Fossil Rim Wildlife Preserve. My knees politely reminded me that I’m not 25 anymore, so we kept our daily walks to a sensible four miles. Still, the scenery, the wildlife, and the laughter of old friends made it more than worth it. (https://youtu.be/VCGMA77Xkwg)

In May, Ursula and I teamed up with our longtime Swiss friends, Kurt and Renata, for a 25-day road trip across northern Spain. We kicked off in Bilbao, then hugged the coast westward to Cedeira before looping inland through León, Ponferrada, Burgos, and finally the Rioja wine region, circling back to Bilbao. Along the way, we soaked up history, culture, and, naturally, plenty of excellent food and wine. Let’s say our hiking pants felt a little snug by the end. (https://youtu.be/8y5P9B89fL0)

July brought new faces into our circle—Jürg and Irene. We’d first heard about them through my cousin Marianne and had been following their camper-travel blog, FindPenguins, which chronicled their adventures through Mexico and the U.S. Meeting in person was even better than reading about their travels. Within minutes, we were swapping stories, laughing, and realizing this was the start of a lasting friendship.

Come autumn, Switzerland called us home. We spent time with family, caught up with old friends, and embarked on a ten-day hiking adventure through the Alps of Saas Fee and Zermatt. The group? Old pals from our New York days in the 1970s. The weather? Perfect. The evenings? Filled with laughter, stories, and the kind of reminiscing that makes you wonder how four decades slipped by so quickly. (https://youtu.be/M8iphgW1Cro)

Our base was Ursula’s brother Wally’s home in Wängi, Thurgau, where his Brazilian girlfriend Marli was also visiting. The house was alive with stories, meals, and good cheer. Together, we toured Liechtenstein and even made a stop at the Chällerhocker cheese factory in Tufertschwil (yes, samples were involved). Later, Wally and Marli joined us in Saas Fee for three glorious days of mountain hiking. We couldn’t help but feel grateful that, after all these years, we’re still healthy enough to tackle trails and share these adventures together.

We wrapped up the year in style with our traditional Christmas Eve Meat Fondue—a family favorite. Ursula poured her usual love and energy into preparations, while Chef Andreas handled the meats: beef, pork tenderloin, and chicken, which I happily helped chop into bite-sized pieces. The star of the evening turned out to be the sauces: ginger-mayo, curry-mayo, and pepper-mayo, each one better than the last.

After dinner came the gifts and Ursula’s tray of Swiss-style Christmas cookies (yes, they disappeared fast). Anina and Jeremy surprised Ursula with a beautiful new La Cocotte, and I was spoiled with a sharp blue ORVIS pullover. The biggest joy, though, was being surrounded by family.

Avery, fresh out of the University of Austin with her chemical engineering degree, and Nina, studying nursing in Denton, reminded us of how fast time flies. It seems like yesterday they were splashing as little kids in our Southlake pool, and now they’re stepping into grown-up life. Watching them, it hit me again—time moves quickly, but it’s these moments together that matter most.

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