2025 · Christmas

The First Christmas Present 🐘

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The Tree Wooden Elephants

Kevin and I met in a club 25 years ago. He was with a couple of friends, who were friends with my friends. After a couple of drinks, we got into a conversation. When I was ready to go home, he gave me a ride to my apartment. Since he knew where I worked, he had shown up the next day. Usually, I don’t give out my phone number unless someone asks for it or I ask for theirs. But when Kevin was standing in front of me, I said, “Dude, I forgot to give you my number last night. If you want to hang out, give me a call. Maybe we can do something for Christmas together.” Kevin agreed, folded the note, and left. The same night, he called me. And we were talking over a beer in a bar.

The next day was Christmas Eve. I was on vacation leave for the remaining days of the year. Months ago, a friend of mine and I planned a small Christmas dinner for the night before Christmas. I asked her if it was okay if I brought a friend over. She said: “Well, it’s Christmas. Nobody should celebrate this special holiday alone.” Kevin picked me up from home. When I sat in the car and we talked a little, he opened the glove box and handed me a small present. I shook it to hear what might be in there. Kevin screamed: “NOOOOOOOOOOO!” Later on, I found out why he did that. Well, the little elephant lost part of its trunk when I shook the little box. Even when the elephant doesn’t look perfect anymore. But it is a story worth talking about. It was very sweet of him since we had known each other for a couple of days. It was the first gift I got from Kevin. I still treasure these three wooden elephants to this very day.

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2025 · Christmas · Throwback Thursday

Christmas Season (Part I) 2003 – 2005

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Christmas 2003 was bittersweet. It was Katelynn’s first Christmas, but it was also our last Christmas in Germany.

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In December 2004, we had a Dallas Holiday Wish Celebration. The Beach Boys had a concert, and even Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto came to visit and sing and dance in front of Dallas City Hall. I have it all on videotape footage and didn’t capture too many event photos.

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In 2005, we bought our house in Texas. The same year, we celebrated Christmas/Yuletide in our new home.

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… to be continued …

2025 · Dallas/Fort Worth

World Basketball Champions 2011: Dallas Mavericks

On my way to the Dallas Mavericks Championship Parade in Dallas, Texas

On June 12, 2011, the Dallas Mavericks won the Finals 4:2 against the Miami Heat in the Kaseya Center in Miami. Three days later, on June 16, 2011, Kevin and I went to Dallas and saw the Dallas Mavericks Parade. Unfortunately, we had too many people in front of us to capture decent photos of the players and the parade. The Dallas Mavericks team waited 31 years for this victory to become the World Champions in Basketball.

Later that month, Dirk went to our hometown, where he got his own parade and waved from the balcony of our Würzburg Residence. From 1984 to 1987, I went to the same school as Dirk. Here, Dirk was six when he started 1st grade. Who would have ever thought that this kid would win an NBA championship many years later?

2025

31 Years …

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I cannot wait to see what you’ll accomplish in your 30s.
Knowing you, it will be epic.

Happy 31st birthday, Sam!

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2025 · Travel Tuesday

A Boat Ride From Würzburg To The Veitshöchheim Court Garden, Lower Franconia, Germany 2001

The Veitshöchheim Palace is situated on the grounds of one of the most important Rococo gardens in Germany. Until 1802, it was the Summer residence of the Prince-Bishop ofWürzburg. The summer residence was built on the site of a hunting lodge under Prince-Bishop Peter Philipp von Dernbach from 1680 to 1682 and was enlarged from 1749 to 1753 by Balthasar Neumann, who also redesigned the roof. The ceiling stucco work by Antonio Bossi also dates from this time, and the staircase sculptures were completed by Johann Peter Wagner in 1780. The castle has been owned by the Bavarian Crown since 1814 and was also used as a summer palace by the royal family in the 19th century.

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After the 4th of July, Kevin and I had a few vacation days. Since the weather was so nice, we decided to do something outdoors. So, we went to the Main River to take a boat ride from Wurzburg to Veithoechheim, approximately 5 miles (8 km) down the river.

When we arrived in Veithshöchheim, I checked the boat schedule before we walked over to the Court Garden. Kevin and I were strolling around in the gardens until we arrived at the Grotto with Belvedere, where the bottom part has animal sculptures, which are made of shells and snail houses. I was always fascinated with the grotto when I was a child visiting the Court Garden. The gardens have a lot of historical sculptures of astronomical figures, poets, and many more.

When it was time to leave, Kevin and I went to the ice cream parlor before we made our way down to the boat again. On the boat ride back to Würzburg, we had a nice view of the vineyards am Stein. This Franconian wine from these vineyards is famous all over Germany and Europe.


2025 · Travel Tuesday

Würzburg & Fortress Marienberg, Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany 1993

One afternoon in May 1993, I went up to our Fortress in Würzburg. Once, I walked up the hill, and I captured some photos of the Fortress Marienberg. There is also a large wall, from which visitors can overlook the city of Würzburg, my hometown, where I was born, raised, and lived for 30 years before moving to the United States.

Würzburg was also the filming location for “The Three Musketeers” in 2010. Other places included Bamberg, Burghausen, the Herrenchiemsee Palace, Munich, and Potsdam in Germany. The movie was released in 2011.