Life in the USA – 2026

-> January - We celebrated our anniversary on January 16th with rather warm temperatures and enjoyed a wonderful dinner at NY Pizzeria in Watauga. Sometimes it is hard to fathom that Ursula and I met 61 years ago and have been married for 56 years. ❤️‍🩹

Winter finally arrived on the 26th with a severe cold front affecting the entire southern and eastern United States. We took the usual precautions to protect the outdoor plants, the pool equipment, and the waterlines, and we settled in for four days and came through without any incident. Watching the Australian Open 🎾 tennis matches was amazing and helped those icy, freezing days pass much more quickly.

-> March - Sometimes reality hits without warning. My best friend, Aubra, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. At first, the doctors estimated his life expectancy anywhere from a few months to about two and a half years. Fortunately, he qualified for a clinical trial at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute at the Mary Crowley Cancer Center in Dallas for a promising new medication. So far, the treatment is going well, and he is not in significant pain. However, he has developed a difficult side effect in the form of an itchy skin rash, which is very uncomfortable. I hope he will be able to continue the treatment and benefit from this experimental drug. I think of him every day and quietly pray for his recovery.

-> On the 20th, we set off on a two-week journey to Brazil to visit Ursula’s brother Wally and his wife Marli. Our adventure began in João Pessoa (https://youtu.be/TYdpJ2jdhWM?si=kLC6v3CZ0V6lVmbc), a beautiful beach town at the easternmost point of South America. We stayed at Hotel BA’RA, which fully lived up to its promise and proved to be an excellent choice. We spent a wonderful week together exploring sandy beaches, enjoying delicious seafood, and staying well refreshed along the way. Our loyal Uber driver, Jaime, added a special touch to our experience, sharing his deep knowledge of the area and its history, which made our outings all the more engaging. For the second week, we flew to Araxá, where Wally and Marli live. Their modern two-bedroom home, located in a quiet gated community on the outskirts of town, was both peaceful and comfortable. They showed us around, including the neighborhood where Marli once lived and the park where they first met in 1975. One highlight was a lively churrasco barbecue, where Marli’s extended family gathered for a warm and joyful weekend celebration. It was especially gratifying to see how well Wally has been accepted and respected by her family. He has embraced the culture impressively and communicates quite well in Portuguese. I, on the other hand, found speaking and pronunciation challenging, despite having studied before the trip. Marli is a truly kind and grounded person, practical and warm-hearted. She is also an excellent cook and delighted us with homemade Brazilian specialties, including pão de queijo, feijoada, and caramel pudding. (https://youtu.be/uqFoVNazYpk?si=DC79VmulIimUXSPg) As always, time passed far too quickly, and our departure came sooner than we would have liked. We grew very fond of Brazil and are already looking forward to returning.

-> April 19-20 - Eight of us enjoyed being chauffeured by Mike and Robert on the 2½-hour drive north to Chickasaw National Recreation Area. It was a beautiful, sunny day, pleasantly cool and perfect for hiking. We began with the Bison Pasture Trail (2.7 miles), a well-maintained path winding through oak forest, crossing small creek bridges, and skirting pastures with a bit of elevation to keep things interesting. By around 4:00 p.m., we rolled into Antler Ridge Cabins for the night. After the usual post-hike refreshments and strategic planning session, we lined up a few picnic tables and “Chef Heinz” fired up the grill. Bavarian bratwurst and garlic-pepper chicken breasts soon made their appearance, joined by toasted buns, potato salad, and coleslaw—no Michelin stars, but no complaints either. The Travertine Creek Trail (2.8 miles), on the second day, was just as well-maintained and a bit easier than the previous day. The gentle out-and-back route followed a creek through more oak forest. At one point, we passed a natural sulfur spring—its unmistakable “rotten egg” smell leaving no doubt about its source. Aubra, who is undergoing cancer treatment, did impressively well given the circumstances - Kudos to him. We kept an eye out for bison, but they remained elusive, which made me consider for a moment to rename this trip The Elusive Buffalo 😎. Our group comes from a variety of backgrounds, with some traveling from as far as Tyler, Austin, and even Harlingen to join these outings. Over the years, we’ve formed a unique bond and friendship. This trip to Chickasaw marked our 24th “geezer hike” since 2013—and certainly one to remember.

-> May - Our pool light failed again, just five years after a pool company replaced it at considerable cost. This time it went completely dark without warning, no flicker, no gradual dimming. Curious and slightly annoyed, I did some careful research and discovered that our 120V Jandy–Pentair unit appears to have a design weakness that often leads to premature failure. Unlike older fixtures with a simple bulb, this model relies on a complex circuit board and LED light engine. Replacements typically run between $1,200 and $1,440, which feels excessive. Fortunately, I came across a company, Florida Sunseeker, offering an aftermarket solution at a much lower price. The catch is that it requires converting the wiring to 12V. On the plus side, the design is reportedly more robust and longer lasting. That made the decision easy: I ordered the kit and turned it into a DIY project. Stage 1 involved reviewing pool electrical code requirements, planning the installation carefully, and gathering the necessary components. Stage 2 was running the new wiring and making the proper connections at the breaker panel and step-down transformer, with particular attention to safety, as it was raining on and off. I will admit there was a moment of doubt while working through the wiring, wondering whether everything would function as intended once power was restored. Stage 3 consisted of removing the underwater fixture and installing the upgraded LED light engine. All in all, the project took about a week, and everything went according to plan. This evening, I switched on the pool light for the first time. It looked beautiful. Even the pair of ducks that have been spending their nights in our pool this time of year seemed to approve. The total material cost came to $433, while the pool company would likely have charged at least $1,800 to install another original Jandy–Pentair unit. A satisfying result, both technically and financially.

Stay tuned for continuing updates as this year progresses ......

Upcoming Travel:

- Road trip Detroit, Michigan, London, Ont. (June)
- Las Vegas, NV (August)
- Sanibel Island, Florida (November)Read more