Jörn’s Year 2001

deutsche Version

Friends and relatives,

Jörn’s (Joern’s) year 2001 was especially full of events! The first half of the year the two of us lived our quiet life here in Bonn. Then, on July 10th, Birte returned from America, and on August 17th Carla joined us from heaven! Gisela stopped working in July and wants to return to her office in October 2002. My freelance work for Ericsson continues at a reduced pace, even though the company did a number of layoffs. Times are somewhat discouraging – but that doesn’t belong here. I am still writing for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and I even published a book this year: »Handy und PC«, meaning “Cell Phone and PC”, a German preview here.

The first Quarter of 2001 was very busy, as this is the quarter for marketing. In January I was invited to India; an unforgettable short trip full of sights and experiences, and a lecture as well: Indians think of Germans as complacent, and all I can is agree. India has a bright future, if peace can be kept. Later I traveled to Berlin, Cannes and again to Hanover. The world’s biggest computer fair, the Cebit, has seen me for the 32nd time in a row now.

Easter we were in South Tyrol, on our family farm, at cool temperatures and even a bit of snow. It was beautiful. We walked our own mountain, saw friends and relatives, even our new old friends, the (Schuldt-)Brittings. We visited Mantova and Verona. Early in May we met Fritz’ old school “boys”, some of them already retired.
Our beloved farm, snow covered.
For more see www.Siebenfahr.com

In May I flew to Denver to “graduate” my daughter Birte from high school. We made a trip to California, both of us driving, and saw some of this great country and old friends of mine. In early June we had to return to Germany. The friendship with Birte’s American host parents got even closer (and the separation easier) when they came to visit us in South Tyrol in the end of June, with their three children and Grandma Kirshner, who still speaks good German and enjoyed it. (South Tyrol is a mainly German speaking area in Italy.) We enjoyed the local customs and costumes, took cableways up to the mountain tops, and visited Venice. A time like a dream.

With Birte, Erich, Jean; Olivia, Isabella, and Sophia Kirshner

On Friday, August 17th, our Carla was born, a week late but still only 2520 g (89 ounces). In the meantime she has grown a lot, well nursed by Gisela. Carla’s late night stomach pains have gone away. She can concentrate on people now, on flowers and she smiles. She came with us to the traditional family “Boßeln” at Aurich in East Friesia – a sort of street bowling. Birte has adapted to her “Gymnasium” here, to less ambition, less interested teachers and to many dropped lessons – a real contrast to Colorado. The two of us took off for a prolonged weekend to Paris in October, Birte’s first visit there. Beyond school she studies game hunting. My son Nils (26) lives with his girl friend up north in Kiel.

December 1st was celebration day here: Carla’s baptism in the afternoon and Fritz’ sixtieth birthday dinner in the evening. Parents and relatives, new and old friends had come from far places. We took our time and danced until three o’clock in the morning. Lucky who feels twice thirty at sixty! So let us now look forward to another celebration in 2004, to Gisela’s fourtieth.

We sincerely thank all of those who came, who gave us presents, who thought of us, and greet all our other friends as well. Have a merry Christmas and a good year 2002!