It's Just a Game
This is the number of times that Jan, with his superior speed, quickness, and fitness. beat his father in tennis.
What is zero/none?
Early in their relationship, at a party in New York, Lucia was “shocked” when someone dropped an egg on the floor and HCM did this.
What is grabbed a spoon, scooped it up, and ate it?
Traveling with the Williams’ in England (?), Lucia and Christian had a little “tiff” with slamming doors and such. But the next morning, when they heard Christian endearingly call Lucia “Schnuckiiii…” Bob and Jackie laughed to themselves presuming that Christian and Lucia had made up by doing this.
What is making whoopie?
When the contractor at their new house said they would have to share a closet, and Lucia said. “Oh no…I don’tt want to have to get rid of my nice clothes”. HCM said this….
What is “Schucki, …don’t worry, I will get rid of all my clothes and just wear a loin cloth around the house”?
When Christian was growing up, he sometimes got to school this way. You might say his grades were “slipping”
What is cross-county/ nordic skiing to school?
When remembering a familiar song, Christian is known to start singing it, but the second line of the song invariably turns into this series of sounds.
What is da da da da da….?
A casual Hilton Head vacation outing with Uncle Chris and family that you think would be all fun and games until it becomes all about technique and winning.
What is putt putt/miniature golf?
This favorite breakfast dish of Christian’s was one of the relatively few instances when Christian “took charge” in the kitchen.
What is “Farmers Breakfast”?
When vacationing with Rey and Lorelei in the Thousand Islands (St. Lawrence). It surprisingly took Christian all day to do this when it only took Lucia an hour.
What is travel between New York and Canada?
In a comic case of hope over experience, Christian typically does this to help Lucia to hurry up when they are leaving the house.
What is getting in the car, starting the engine, tapping the horn, maybe turning off the engine again, and finally....waiting?
This body of water is where Christian may have first developed his love for boating and a taste for the sea.
What is the Baltic Sea?
This person was a little uncomfortable when Christian would swim naked in their backyard pool.
Who is Rey when he was visiting in New Jersey
Who is Abby Chisholm, our nextdoor neighbor in Rhode Island?
Who are other people too numerous to mention?
A game that Uncle Chris is always willing to play with you... and usually wins. Except maybe against Big Dad.
What is backgammon?
No matter who is making breakfast, Christian is the “Lord” of this manor in the bread department.
What is the cutting and toasting of English muffins?
This “big river” is where Christian saved his family from a stormy waves by dropping them off ashore and he alone steered the boat to safety.
What is the Hudson River?
These five (maybe more) “terms of endearment” are family or pet names for Christian.
What are Schnucki, Monkey, Chrisso, Papa, Papasan?
When they were little, even though they were not old enough to drive, Eva and Christian “borrowed” Vati’s car while he was napping and drove to and from the police station!!. This is how they were found out and the punishment they received
What is Olga/Mutti noticed they had used the couch cushion as a booster seat?
On a cold Memorial Day boating adventure in northern Michigan, this was the final answer to Jan’s repeatedly asking “are you cold?” and “do you want a jacket?”.
What is “I’m freezing”?
A part of Uncle Christian’s face that always stayed perfectly calm, even when he was mad.
What is his forehead?
When Susie was living with the Muellers in New Jersey Christian especially enjoyed satisfying her (pregnant?) cravings for this dessert.
What is ice cream, especially Baskin-Robbinns (which was a big deal at the time).
On just another uneventful “little excursion” by boat across Long Island Sound with Myron Gural, they kinda “lost” this along the way.
What is the windshield of the boat?
Shortly after they first met, Christian spent as much as this amount of money (in dollars and Deutsche marks) calling her from Germany to New York.
What is “Christian, do you remember?
With Eva (again!), Christian “borrowed” (again!) this water vessel, much to the displeasure of an engineer at Vati’s company.
What is a rowboat?
For “skit night” on an adventure cruise to Alaska with Jan, Christian volunteered to wear only this and make the show “rock like a baby.
What is a giant diaper?
The site of the Mueller family reunion where some of us were curious to learn that Christian is known as the “warm and fuzzy” Mueller among the rest of the family.
What is Eva’s birthday gathering at Le Barroux?
As a child during WWII, he took turns with his siblings doing this when there was not enough for everyone to eat every day.
What is eating one potato?
On a hike with Jan in Alaska, doubting they would actually encounter a Grizzly Bear, what was the first thing that Christian said when they came upon a big pile of fresh bear on the trail.
What is “hellooo Mr. Bear!....”?
When Lucia implored Christian to not take the boat out on Lake Michigan because of large waves and an official “Small Craft Warning” by the Coast Guard, this was Christian’s reply.
What is “we are not a small craft”?
This the site of another gathering of family and friends where Christian held court telling countless boating stories, with the help of a “little” beer and wine over croquet.
What is Camp JME in Sandwich NH?
HCM usually wore this when walking the dog and fetching the paper, even in the middle of winter?
What is boxer shorts and a t-shirt, basically whatever he slept in?
The place where Uncle Chris and Aunt Lucia generously hosted a de la Reza reunion
Where is Hilton Head?
What did Christian do when Jan was little and refused to eat his dinner.
What is make him sit at the table until bedtime and then sternly direct him to “stop being stupid now and eat your dinner already!"
The city where Uncle Chris and Aunt Lucia lived and hosted a wonderful visit from Rey’s family when Marc, Michele, and Lisa were little kids.
Where is Battle Creek?
Uncle Chris and Aunt Lucia traveled to awesomely support the performance of this creative duo at the famous Spoleto Festival.
Who are Michele and Peter?
A family member who shares the same birthday with Christian.
Who is Michele?
Among the group of friends who regularly went to the gym and then for coffee and pastries, this person was sometimes referred to as the “Mayor of Panera”.
Who is HCM?