USA Family

One really sad thing about the pandemic for us personally was that my family didn't get to come to our wedding. We just weren't prepared to put that aspect of our lives on hold as many have done. Love is, afterall, the main idea. So, as soon as the opportunity presented itself, we took a trip to the US so that my wife could meet the family.

On Sunday, the 15th of December, my dad picked us up in Seattle and took us over to his neck of the woods. There we went for a walk and then promptly passed out from the jetlag.

Over the next few days, we visited our investment properties, played games, cooked, and went out on the water. Even though Indra got to drive the big boat, I think she more enjoyed going out on the paddle boat and exploring the back areas of the end of the lake. Although, she also really liked sitting in the rowboat while I did all the work!

Now, despite Corona, or perhaps rather out of spite for the rules, we spent a lot of time with a lot of people. For us coming out of Europe, particularly Germany, this was a bit of a change of pace. But that's America! Everyone just does what they want. So, after going to a family Christmas party in my dad's area, we made our way over to Eastern Washington for a Christmas party at my brothers... where just about all of us got Corona. A friend of my sister-in-law wasn't feeling well, but came anyway - there were some feelings about that later on!

Our next stop was "hotel mama" - Indra's new favorite holiday resort! After a short stop to show Indra the farm where I grew up, we went to Puyallup for a few days of painting, riding motorcycles, sitting in the hot tub, and visiting with old friends.

And finally, on the way back to my dad's, we stopped by at my sister's for a visit and a massive, very yummy roast!

Back at my dad's it was our last evening in the states, so we went for a walk in Belfair State Park at what turned out to be the most beautiful time of day to do so!

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Honeymoon Life

It's been said that a honeymoon doesn't have to end. I can't say I disagree. A friend once told me that the key is to "be slow to criticize and quick to forgive". This is definitely a good start. I think it's also pretty important to count your blessings or, as I do here, keep record of them.

Getting married was a wonderful experience, but it was also just the beginning. Since then we've been busy. We've moved into our apartment around the corner from where we got engaged, started new jobs, taken every opportunity to travel, and spent lots of time with friends and family.

On Sunday, July 26th, we got dressed up and went out with family for Pfannekuchen - a German pancake with lots of filling. Then, after a weekend in Gut Elim swimming in Siglansee, grilling and fighting with a little invader (see video), we joined the in-laws for a few days in a small dorf (town) called Oberkirchen.

We hiked up into the hills, cycled around the region, stopped to go "wassertreten" (walking in cold water) and to try the barfuß (barefoot) paths, went swimming in Hennesee, and ate at nice cafes and restaurants along the way. We also visited a really weird pyramid museum with ringtail cats and alien exhibits.

Needless to say, Indra's parents really know how to spoil us! Back in Düsseldorf, they also helped us a lot with getting our apartment set up. They brought lights for us to install (Germans take everything with them when they move out - even the kitchen!) and they helped us assemble various appliances and pieces of furniture.

We've also spent lots of time visiting friends. On Sunday, the 9th of August, we went to Leverkusen for a walk through the countryside with some local friends and ate at a Japanese buffet called Japanhaus. Considering that Düsseldorf is the Japanese capitol of Europe, it was certainly not necessary to go all the way to Leverkusen for Japanese food, especially non-authentic Japanese food, but, nevertheless, I really enjoyed it.

Over the following month we went on more bicycle trips, spent more time in Gut Elim, took a Flixbus to Frankfurt to visit for a couple days, and met friends in Aachen for a hike to the Dreiländereck or "border triangle" (where three countries meet) of Holland, Belgium and France. There I almost got run down by a crazy horse, and one of our party got lost in the woods, but we made it to the end and had dinner at a nice (authentic..?) Chinese buffet.

Finally, for the last week of November, my friend Garret came up from Munich for Thanksgiving and helped me prepare a semi-Thanksgiving feast, including a buckweat pumpkin pie... over about four hours. Not what either of us had in mind, but pretty worth it in the end. The next day we all went to Wuppertal, took a small hike, and rode the Schwebebahn (suspension railway).

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