Life in USA
2020 - 2023 United States of America
YEAR 2020
In February 2020, it was time to renew our (expired) Swiss Passports. Usually, we would have needed to travel to Atlanta for the processing, but we were able to complete the application online and use the consulate's Mobile Processing Unit in Dallas. The new Swiss passport is fantastic. It has an embedded microprocessor chip containing biometric data that can be used to authenticate the passport holder's identity.
In March, we flew to California and drove with Anina & Jeremy to Lake Tahoe, where we met up with Anina's longtime friend Lily. We rented a 2-bedroom VRBO in Truckee and enjoyed our winter sports on three different mountains; Sugar Bowl, Alpine Meadows, and Squaw Valley. Squaw Valley was famous for hosting the 1960 Olympics and was my favorite resort. It had the best infrastructure and nicely groomed, long runs. Our chefs Ursi and Anina prepared delicious meals, a Hungarian beef stew, and Swiss Fondue. What could be better?
In April, the news about the Corona Virus broke out and was declared a pandemic. We were glued to the TV every evening and listened to developing information from the news media and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
In May, I dug up our side yard and installed drainage pipes for the pool overflow and water from the gutters. I also used left-over stones to improve the area around the pool equipment.
In June, I worked in the creek area of our HOA and improved the walkway drainage system. I also worked hours on the computer, writing the Handbook for our HOA. Subjects included Board Functions & Responsibilities, Managing the HOA, Contractors & Contracts, Sidewalks & Streets, Landscaping, Documentation of the Irrigation System, SmartLink Controllers & Programming, Gate Operations & Maintenance, Gate Access Managing System, Maintaining the Creek Area, and HOA Treasurer Process. Due to COVID-19 and travel restrictions, we had to cancel our 3-weeks hiking tour across Scotland. Bummer!
I met with the insurance agent in July and negotiated for new homeowners and car insurance. Then I sold my 2016 Toyota Prius and purchased a 2020 model with built-in safety features and Apple Play. It's a fantastic car! It is also supposed to deliver 54MPG (remains to be seen). Due to COVID-19 and our safety, we decided not to go to Sanibel Island in November of this year. Bummer!
Wildfires broke out again in California, and Anina and Jeremy were affected this time. They had to evacuate and prepare for the worst. At first, it was believed their house had burned to the ground along with two other structures on the secluded property in the forest. A week later, the owners were escorted to the location and reported that the property miraculously survived except for some burnt trees. Meanwhile, Anina and Jeremy were working and living in their camper van in Jeremy's warehouse in Healdsburg. Another week later, they could go into their house to rescue a few belongings and more clothes. They hope the smoke damage won't be as bad and they can move back in as soon as there is water and the electricity has been restored.
In August, the Dwarf Fountain Grass we planted by the pool earlier in the year started looking very nice. Later that month, I helped our Swiss friend in Keller document the sprinkler system and uncover a valve buried under the backyard deck. What stupidity by the deck builder!
In September, we installed a new TV in our living room. It was an LG 65" 4K OELD Smart TV with excellent picture clarity. We should be suitable for another ten years in that department! (I think).
October 26th was indeed a historical day in my life that I will never forget. Our good friends, Beni & Elisabeth, sold their house in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and on that same day, Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed to the Supreme Court!
In November, our home insurance paid for the roof replacement. And in-house Architect, Ursula, seized the opportunity to install new gutters & downspouts and decided on a dark brown trim color to enhance the Tudor style of our home. Restauration Roofing did excellent work.
December. Despite Covid-19, our children and their families came home for Christmas. Anina did a professional job coloring and cutting Ursula's hair. Andreas made rabbit and chicken stock. Ursula prepared a delicious beef stew and made the traditional Chinese Fondue. We also had a Swiss Raclette one evening. Jeremy's daughter, Avery, gifted me a pair of hand-knit socks. We all had such a wonderful time!
YEAR 2021
I decided to close the Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram accounts and stepped down from the HOA board after four years of voluntary service. January was a relatively mild winter month. On the 14th, we received our first COVID-19 vaccine from the Tarrant County Health Department. A week later, I developed a badly stiff neck. The slightest head movement caused excruciating pain, and I had to see an orthopedic doctor who injected me with some muscle relaxers. A few days later, I went for a neck and shoulder massage, which helped a great deal, and I got to feel better little by little.
In February weather, on the other hand, was much different. After receiving our second vaccine shots, we had a week of extreme cold. We had never experienced anything like that before in our lives and certainly never expected -2.2F in Texas. As the temperature dropped, we had several frozen water pipes twice without electricity for several hours. Fortunately, our home wasn't damaged, but thousands of other Texans were not so lucky.
April was a relatively calm month. On the 11th, I went to Huntsville, Texas, with the Geezer Group. On the first day, we went sightseeing in town and visited the Sam Houston Memorial and the Oakwood Cemetary, where he and Aubra's grandparents are buried. On the second day, we did a 6.2-mile hike in the nearby State Park. It is always so much fun to go places with this group. My responsibility is to scout/organize the hikes and carry the first-aid kit in my backpack.
In May, Andreas paid us a surprise visit on Mother's Day. That was so cool. We all enjoyed an early dinner at Sushi Sam. He talked to us about his plans to purchase a 3-BR home at the beginning of 2022, when his current apartment lease ends. We are very excited for Andreas to become a first-time homeowner. He and Nichole will visit us for a long weekend in November on Sanibel Island.
In June, Conny Buchele from Rolex Mexico visited us for 3-days, and she got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine from our local CVS Pharmacy. It was nice to talk with her about my Rolex days and the progress the company has made since. I also went to my eye surgeon, who performed a particular procedure that considerably improved the sharpness and colors of my vision.
We traveled to Angel Fire, NM, with our neighbors Steve & Melody for a week of wonderful hiking in July. Temperatures were in the '70s, with the usual Monsoon thunderstorms in the afternoon. We collected Bolete mushrooms which made a delicious meal. One afternoon, we visited the town of Taos, and on the way back to Dallas, we stopped in Amarillo and had lunch at the famous Big Texan Steak Ranch. It was nice to be away from home and spend a week in the mountains during this boring pandemic. Watch the Video here.
August was hot and humid as usual in Texas, although temperatures seldom exceeded 100F. We had unexpected problems with an HOA sprinkler controller and two dead zones, which demanded much of my attention. I also saw Dr. Lacey for a colonoscopy. Afterward, I went on a 7-day cleansing diet. It's good to give your digestive system a break occasionally.
Nepal has been hit hard with Covid-19 and other hardships this year in the remote valleys of the Himalayas. I participated with a group of Swiss friends to support 70 families in the village of Sindhupalchok with rice. Here are a few pictures they sent me. More people would be willing to donate, but with large organizations, you are unsure where the money ends. In this case, I know every person involved in the direct distribution. No management fees - the money is for purchasing goods and transportation - it goes directly to the families.
At the end of August, my sister's husband, Gerhard Kneppeck, passed away after years of battling Parkinson's Disease. I miss Gerhard dearly. He was a joyful person with a good sense of humor. Throughout his life, he drove fast BMW cars and loved to eat. He was a baker by trade and a successful businessman who, together with my sister, owned a couple of bakeries in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Ursula and I joined them on their honeymoon camping trip and hiking through the Swiss Alps. We had lots of laughs and fun together. Gerhard and Elisabeth were Anina't Godparents.
In September we flew to Las Vegas, where we visited our longtime friends Bernhard & Elisabeth Schafroth, who recently moved to the area from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. See the Video from their beautiful new home and our activities together. They are both pleased in Henderson. https://youtu.be/eqpnumub1Go
Afterward, we visited Anina & Jeremy in Healdsburg, CA. They still live in the little house in a beautiful secluded place above Mill Creek. Margaret & Grant, the property owners, surprised us with a box of goodies from their garden and a bottle of wine for my birthday. They are wonderful people. One day, Jeremy gave us a tour of the camper van business VanLand he recently started - they work primarily on outfitting Mercedes Sprinter vans. Jeremy has more work than he can handle. He is currently working on five vans - the craftsmanship was impressive.
Then we rented a vacation home in Sea Ranch and went on several scenic hikes along the Pacific coast. On the way there, we visited a Russian fort where Jeremy demonstrated his drone, equipped with a camera. These things are fantastic, as you can see in This Video. One morning, they decided to prepare a special breakfast for us, Spanish Omelet It was so delicious!
Tragic news reached us on September 26th. Our HOA landscaper Robert Maldonado passed away from COVID-19 while visiting his dying mother-in-law (92) in Monterrey, MX. He operated a landscaping business and has a wife, a 5-year-old baby girl, and two children in college. He was only 46 years old. He was the most excellent, honest person you can imagine, and very hard-working! So sad RIP, Robert.
October Hiking trip with my senior buddies. This time, our destination was Devil's Den State Park, about 5.5 hours from Dallas. This area has lots of wooded hills and remote valleys. We stayed overnight in friendly 2-person cabins with AC. On the day of arrival, we hiked for about 3 hours on the Yellow Rock Trail to a lookout point. Then we conducted our important planning meeting and cooked a nice BBQ dinner with Bratwurst and Chicken. We hiked for 4 hours on our second day, followed by lunch at the Ft. Smith brewery. The fun and comradery on these outings are always awesome!
We left on November 29th for our 3-weeks vacation on Sanibel Island. SeeVideo. Sadly, because of COVID, our friends from Switzerland and Canada could not join us. The weather was more relaxed, with temperatures only in the 60s and 70s. Hans & Therese from Vermont joined us in the second week. We visited the fantastic Naples Botanical Gardens together. SeeVideo. Then, Andreas & Nichole stayed with us for an extended weekend. We had a lovely time together, including a boat excursion to Cayo Costa State Park. I'm forever grateful to Kurt & Renata for introducing us to this island when I was still working for Rolex.
I am so proud of Andreas, who closed on his first house in San Antonio in early December, an essential step in his life. He then joined the rest of us with Nichole and daughter Keira to celebrate Christmas in our home in Keller. It was beautiful to have the whole family assembled for a few days. We have so much to be thankful for, especially being in good health during this crazy Covid-19 time. Anina, Jeremy, Avery, and Nina left on the 28th for a week of relaxation in Tulum, Mexico. Now, this politically turbulent year has come to an end. The stock market is at a maximum high; I think it is overinflated.
YEAR 2022
On January 9th, Anina & Jeremy were able to catch a flight back to the US after being forced to quarantine in Cancun. After their return, they moved to a 3-BR home in Healdsburg, CA. On the 16th, we celebrated our 52nd Anniversary, enjoying Sushi for lunch.
On the 21st, Conny from Mexico City visited with her son Lars for his COVID booster shot. Lars (now 11) grew up as a lovely young boy with many talents. The last time I saw him was when he was three years old. We had fun rock climbing, ice skating, and flying my drone.
Ursula and I flew to Maui, Hawaii, for a 9-day vacation in April. We stayed in a condo in Kihei, where we took daily trips in our rental car to explore the different parts of the island. The most memorable places were The Road to Hana and watching the sunrise from the 10,000 ft. top of Haleakalā. SeeVideo.
After Ursula's 73rd birthday, we drove to San Antonio to visit Andreas for a few days. It started with a charming Sushi dinner. And then, I got busy upgrading all the sprinkler heads for the irrigation system on his property. We all had fun cooling off in the swimming pool.
On April 20th my longtime Rolex colleague Hans-Ruedi Stoll passed away. Our friendship started in 1969 when we were both trainees waiting to land a job with a foreign Rolex Agency. Hans-Ruedi subsequently worked many years in Hong Kong before returning to the mother ship in 1990 to be in charge of the After-Sale-Service, Tools & Technical Information section department. He had many hobbies, from swimming to bicycling, but his passion was rifle shooting. Hans-Ruedi was the president of the Small-Caliber shooting club of Nyon. He always had a good sense of humor and was fun. I will miss Hans-Ruedi.
On May 26th, I had a very unpleasant experience. As I was parking my car at the Maki & Poke place, where I frequently went for lunch, my brain and foot were out of synch for a split second. Instead of pressing the brake, I pressed the accelerator. The car lurched forward and smashed into the Restaurant, causing considerable damage to the glass structure (and my Prius). I was dumb folded and in shock. I was lucky that I did not insure myself or anyone else. These are the moments when you are glad to have insurance! Travelers gave me a rental car for 30 days and paid for the $12,000+ in repairs (less my $500 deductible).
On May 30th Anina's cat, Moses, passed away. We babysat him often while Anina & Jeremy were traveling and saw him in (hunting) action around their rental home on Mill Creek Road. He was such a lovely, good-natured creature. I miss him very much.
In September, we got invited by our good neighbors Mike & Sue Lucas to join them along with another couple living in Keller to spend a vacation at their timeshare on St. John, US Virgin Islands. It was a three-bedroom, three-bath unit in the prestigious Westin Resort. St. John has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and half of the island is designated as National Park. On the first day, we rented a minivan, went food shopping (for breakfast and lunch sandwiches) then headed out for a tour of the island. Driving on the left on narrow 2-way roads, up and down the hilly terrain, took some getting used to by our driver Mike, but he handled it like a Pro.
We had an early dinner at Greengos in town (the fish tacos and local beer were delicious. The next day, we packed sandwiches and boarded a 41 ft—Catamaran that took us on a 6-hour sailing/snorkeling cruise around the island. Our crew, Kenny & Susanne, knew their stuff and took us to many secluded beaches and spots accessible by boat. It was an unforgettable experience! The following day, we packed sandwiches again and parked near a trailhead. The trail took us up and around a hill to Honeymoon Beach and Solomon Beach. We snorkeled both beaches and observed beautifully colored tropical fish, sea turtles, stingrays, and jellyfish. Lunch was served at the Surfside Restaurant in town (excellent food and service). Then we played cards at the condo until bedtime. The next day was a leisurely rest day with an early dinner at the Windmill Restaurant (on top of a hill) with breathtaking sunset views over the island. The remainder of the week was spent exploring more beaches and having fun. We can't thank Mike & Sue enough for this fantastic opportunity! SeeVideo.
4-days after our return from St. John, I tested positive for COVID-19. Two days later, Ursula was also cheerful. However, it wasn't a pleasant experience because we had the vaccines & booster shots, and our symptoms were relatively mild. Ursula felt it for about two weeks; mine was very stubborn and lasted for 4-weeks.
November would typically be the month when we spend three weeks at our timeshare on Sanibel Island. Unfortunately, the eye of Hurricane Ian passed directly over the island, causing 6 to 10 feet of floods and massive property damage. Rebuilding will take a minimum of 1-2 years. Bummer! So, instead, we decided to visit Anina & Jeremy in their new place in Healdsburg, a 3-bedroom house initially built in 1895. It was the farmhouse of an Italian prune farmer. A gas-fired stove in the first-floor living room is the heat source for the entire house.
On Sunday the 6th, we went on a lovely morning walk through the neighborhood, then drove to Lake Sonoma for a leisurely hike in the hills above the lake. Jeremy had packed delicious croissant sandwiches for lunch. It rained intermittently for the next two days, but we had enough windows to explore the town. One evening, Ursula made a mixed salad, and Anina & Jeremy prepared excellent Pizzas in their special pizza oven. We visited the Paradise Ridge Winery and Sculpture Garden in Santa Rosa on Wednesday, followed by a lovely 4-course dinner at the CIA in Nappa Valley. Life can't get any better than this! The next day, Anina showed us her cute Physical Therapy office in Healdsburg (a 10-minute walk from her house). The next day, we had the opportunity to visit Jeremy's impressive camper van business, VanLand, in Santa Rosa. Then we drove to the Pacific and hiked for 6 miles along the coast with breathtaking views and the smell of Eucalyptus forests. Ah, what a treat! Our dinner at a Himalayan restaurant in Sebastapol was a nice finish to a beautiful day in northern California. Watch the Video.
Thanksgiving 2022 was a feast to remember. Ursula prepared her "special" Turkey Roll with traditional fixings. Our next-door neighbors, Cary and Nicoll, were our dinner guests this year. They contributed to the dinner with dishes and desserts, including a pumpkin and pecan pie. Cary, a lawyer, and Nicoll, a painter and cancer counselor, made for some interesting conversations. I learned that a drug developed to rid dogs of pinworms, Fenbendazole, is used as a non-FDA-approved cancer treatment. I forwarded the drug information to my nephew, Daniel Imhof.
Christmas 2022 came during a cold weather system that froze the water line of the kitchen fridge. Luckily, it thawed on its own without busting. Anina and Andreas arrived on the 23rd with their families. The following evening, we made our traditional meal: Fondue Chinoise with beef & pork tenderloins and chicken tenders. Chef Andreas prepared a beef broth from scratch and helped me slice the meat. Ursula's homemade dips were once again outstanding. My favorite one was a mayo-based ketchup with crushed pepper. Yummy! Nichol's 11-year-old daughter Keira surprised everyone with her announcement in Swiss-German "ä Guete aui zäme und dankä für das feine Ässe." Secret Santa brought a present for all. Mine was a pair of nice soft Alpaca socks and several Sneakers Bars. Avery received a series of Lord-of-the-Rings books and Nina a 45-piece silverware (she plans to have her apartment). Ursula's Swiss Christmas cookies were everyone's favorite in-between munchies! On the 26th, we all drove to Fort Worth and enjoyed the Lights Expo at the Japanese Garden. Watch the Video.
YEAR 2023
Snowboarding - February 2023
We flew to Salt Lake City, where our friends Bernhard & Elisabeth picked us up, and drove to our Condo in Park City, where Anina & Jeremy were already waiting. Jeremy and I zoomed the slopes on snowboards, the others on skis. Plenty of 1st class snow and nicely groomed runs offered us three days of unforgettable fun. On the second evening, Beni prepared a delicious Cheese Fondue for all of us. Thanks to Ursula and Anina, who did the other cooking and prepared the lunch sandwiches. Park City 1-day lift ticket price for Seniors was $145 (discounted from $180 thanks to Anina's buddy pass).
March 26-27, I went on a hiking/excursion to Glen Rose, Texas, with the "Geezers Group," where we visited the Dinosaur Valley State Park and Fossil Rim Wildlife Preserve. Both of my knees hurt. We noticed that we were getting older and limited the hiking to easy 4 miles per day. Here is a link to the Video.
We left for a road trip through Northern Spain (Bask-Country) in May with our longtime friends Kurt & Renata from Switzerland. We traveled for 25 days, starting in Bilbao, following the coast westward to Cedeira, and returning inland through León, Ponferrada, Burgos, and the Rioja wine region back to Bilbao. You can read details about this trip in our Picture-Blog1 & Picture-Blog2.
In July, we had the visit of Jürg & Irene, who stopped by for a few days. I first heard about them through my cousin Marianne and have been following their travel blog on FindPenguins about their Camper travels through Mexico and the United States. We spent an unforgettable time together. It was fascinating to listen to their life experience and share our travel stories. They have visited many places, and we discovered a few things in common. I think we just started a new friendship!
During September and October, we enjoyed traveling to Switzerland, reconnecting with family and friends, and embarking on a ten-day hiking adventure in the stunning Alps of Saas Fee and Zermatt. Our hiking group consisted of friends we've known since the 1970s when we resided in New York. The weather graced us with its perfection, allowing us to rekindle many long-standing friendships and reminisce about the fond memories from our "good old days." Our home base during this trip was at Ursula's brother Wally's house in Wängi, Thurgau, where we spent many beautiful days. His girlfriend, Marli, was visiting simultaneously, which positively added to the experience. We visited the tiny country of Liechtenstein and the Chällerhocker cheese factory in Tufertschwil. Walo and Marli also joined us in Saas-Fee for three days of hiking. We are so lucky to still be in good health to enjoy such good times.
Christmas 2023 proved to be a delightful occasion as we gathered on the 24th for our customary Meat Fondue. Ursula, the driving force behind the festivities, devoted considerable effort to shopping, cooking, and preparing for this special event. With his culinary expertise, Chef Andreas contributed beef and pork tenderloins along with chicken breast, which I assisted in cutting into bite-sized pieces. The standout sauces of the year were unquestionably the ginger-mayo, curry-mayo, and pepper-mayo. The feast was followed by the joy of unwrapping presents and indulging in Ursula's delicious Swiss-style Christmas cookies. Anina and Jeremy surprised Ursula with a nice new La Cocotte, while I received a stylish blue ORVIS pullover. Meanwhile, Nina is currently enrolled in community college in Denton, diligently preparing for her pursuit of a nursing degree. Her older sister Avery recently celebrated her graduation from the University of Austin with a degree in chemical engineering. It's astonishing how swiftly time passes; I can vividly recall them as little girls splashing in our Southlake pool, and now they stand as young ladies poised to embark on their professional journeys.
YEAR 2024
January 4th. I received a visit from our neighbor David, who shared a profound revelation he experienced in the middle of the night. He conveyed the message, “Heinz: To see the kingdom of God, you must be born again”. I was unsure what that was all about, but I was deeply moved by David's kindness and willingness to share this insight with me. Initially, I felt a sense of apprehension, but my reservations eased as David continued to discuss Jesus, the son of God, and explained what the Holy Spirit was. For a brief moment, my mind cleared, allowing me to be receptive to whatever might unfold during this encounter. David's faith is evident, and in previous conversations, he told us about the transformative impact of Jesus in his own life. I greatly respect David and appreciate his friendship with us. He’s someone I trust and can learn from, and I like that. As David spoke, I considered that it may be the beginning of a journey to something new, and I would be open to the potential of what might unfold.
David is considering to serve as our next HOA president. I'm very excited about that.
