2022 Christmas Letter

12 thoughts on “2022 Christmas Letter”

  1. I love your end-of-year letter, Alan. I always do. It’s honest and interesting and colorful. I admit that I enjoy the photos as much as the prose. I think it was Socrates who said, “the unreflective life is not worth living.” [Or something like that. And I think it was a Greek philosopher, if not Socrates.]. The point is, reflection is meaningful. Each year, yours reflect sorrow and joy, accomplishments and setbacks. Kind of like life. So thank you for this year’s missive, and every one before and in the future. Xoxox

  2. ❤️ you had me at the undimable lighting fixtures. What savage designs such things?! (as I do not plan on ever needing to perform surgery in the living room) I find bathroom fixtures to also be incredibly frustrating with the extremes of price points. I love your writing. Rant on.

  3. Alan, as always I am thrilled to read your annual missive, and I don’t think you’re whining–you’re real, and I appreciate the warts and the beauty! The house is stunning and I can’t wait to see it and you and meet Keith! Since we (me and hubby David) are itching for a road trip and have never been to that area of Virginia, well, details to come!

  4. Alan,
    Thanks so much for sharing the best and worst of this past year with us. The letter was delightfully entertaining. I loved the pictures and videos.
    The house is gorgeous! Can’t wait to see it in person!
    Happy New Year!

  5. Loved your letter! I feel as though I know what your year was like— the good, the bad and the ugly. Your new home is lovely and worth the effort. Hopefully the appliances will arrive soon to start the new year off right!

  6. Hallo Alan, wie jedes Jahr haben auch wir mit Hochspannung auf Deinen Christmas Letter gewartet – und wurden wieder in keinster Weise enttäuscht! Es ist spannend, Monat für Monat mit Dir/Euch durchs Jahr zu gehen und auch mit zu leiden. Trotz aller Rückschläge während der Bauphase ist das Ergebnis überwältigend! Wir hoffen, daß wir das Ergebnis einmal life erleben können – im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes. Wir wünschen Dir und Keith viele schöne Tage und Stunden im neuen Haus – mit Euch, vielen Freunden und viel Liebe wird dann sehr schnell ein Heim daraus. Mit ganz lieben Grüßen, Marlies und Volkhard

  7. Dear uncle Alan,
    As every January I was looking forward on starting off the new year with your lettter about the past year and as every January it was a delight to read ❤️ Your style of writing is nothing less than a treat and all the stories told resound in my imagination.
    In terms of your distaste of poorly done work: I hear you. Whenever someone tries to lay your tiles crooked, I will have your back. They can leave when they’re done, you can’t – so they must do it right.
    I can’t wait to slide across your beautiful floors in socks and visit your chickens in their Villa and meander through the freshly cut hornbeam tunnel and pick flowers for your living room and cook in that dream of a kitchen you now call your own!
    You two diserve this great house so much (not all the trouble that came with it, obviously) and I am so happy for you and hope you can enjoy it and the wonderful farm you developed around it for a minimum of 30 years

    Lots of hugs and love!

  8. P.S.: please try not to lose an arm. It would probably look funny on you and doesn’t go well with catching chickens.

  9. I’m surprised that no one (unless it was the Seligs) commented on the coincidence of a wine lover and a whine lover living in the same house.
    Anyway, should we start up one of those “gofundme” accounts to help you get some furniture so we can pay you a visit? Just wondering.

  10. Hi Alan, I fell off your distribution list several years ago and never fail to ask Achim to forward me your end-of-the-year reflection. I commend you for having fought the good fight and worked hard to make your dream home your reality. I wish you uncountable moments of happiness there, by yourself, with Keith, and beloved ones, enough work to finance finishing all projects, and enough free time to enjoy the fruit of your labor. There is a time for everything and you seem to know that in all the frenzy. Be blessed in 2023 🙂

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