Tuesday. Malmö. The last day of the year.

Two thousand and twenty-four is about to slip through the cracks. Who dares to predict whether two thousand and twenty-five will be better, worse, or somewhere in between? Not me.

Despite the three-month “pause” this fall, the year still offered a delightful mix of assignments, new book projects, and trips to six different countries—eight if you include Sweden and Denmark.

Highlights of the year:
Hot yoga and surfing in Thailand, skiing in Italy, a month-long road trip to Portugal, wine tasting in Georgia, the bustling ITB in Germany, hiking in the autumn beauty of Abisko National Park, and sailing in Greece. During the year, our little publishing house released five books: four photo books and one about aging in men.

The least impressive highlight of 2024 was the trip to Nerja in Spain, which I don’t quite understand why so many people rave about. The nature is as stunningly beautiful as the town is unbelievably ugly.

25 reflections as the year comes to a close:

1. These days, when I step onto an escalator, I’m surprisingly focused on the seams between the steps.
2. I can’t sit on hard chairs for too long. Maybe it’s time to buy an inflatable cushion to carry around.
3. I’d rather drink an expensive tequila than a cheap bourbon.
4. I think my short-term memory has started to falter, but I can’t remember for sure.
5. One of the few perks of a failing memory is being able to enjoy old movies I’ve already seen a couple of times.
6. Strangely enough, the thought of turning 62 next year feels easier than turning 60 did last year.
7. Of all the creative careers I’ve had, writing is by far the hardest, but also the most stimulating.
8. I’ve discovered that Gothenburg is much more interesting today than it was when I left the city 27 years ago…
9. It was lovely to celebrate Christmas again with my mother-in-law (83) and father-in-law (87). It also felt a bit like an internship for the future.
10. It doesn’t happen as often these days, but I’m always a little happy not to be the oldest in the room. It’s nice to lower the average age sometimes…
11. I have less and less patience for people who are self-satisfied, begrudging and those who’ve gone unchallenged for so long they believe they’re oracles.
12. I’ve started looking forward to retiring in 2.5 years.
13. My two mottos, “to travel is to live, to live is to travel” and “never do nothing,” still hold true.
14. As our home’s chef, cooking is most fun when I know our daughter will be joining us for dinner.
15. At last, I’m beginning to care less and less about what people think of me.
16. After three months without coffee, I’m also completely free of prostate issues. I still have to get up in the middle of the night to pee 40 milliliters, though.
17. It’s nice not to be as recognizable at the pharmacy as I was this fall – but also worrying that the staff at the liquor store greet me so warmly and familiarly.
18. I always travel with indoor slippers in my luggage now.
19. The best pizzas I’ve ever eaten are made by a friend from New York who lives a stone’s throw from us in Malmö. Much better than those I’ve had in Naples and New York.
20. I’m inspired by friends who travel a lot and never feel envious or resentful.
21. The trip that offered the most soul-soothing moments and culinary experiences was to Abisko Mountain Lodge in Swedish Lapland.
22. Greece is our new Portugal.
23. I need to cherish good friends and kind neighbors more.
24. I hope to enjoy more oysters in 2025.
25. True love sometimes creaks but it never rusts.

HAPPY END & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!