Sonoran Desert Snyder Family Letter | 2025

Dear Family and Friends:

We pulled up to the counter in the drive-thru lane at a burger joint.

We had ordered fries and the young man asks, “Do you want some ketchup in the bag?”

And I replied from the driver’s seat, slightly confused, “Oh, do you mean like in little packets? Or would you just … (and then I made the sound a ketchup bottle makes when you squeeze it … with the accompanying hand gestures).”

The young man said, “No, in packets.”

I told him we were good on ketchup.

I hit a milestone earlier this year. I was in my office when I discovered that my phone was missing. I breathlessly hurried down the hallway, praying that I’d find my phone in the men’s room … and there it is … sitting atop the toilet paper dispenser in the second stall. The milestone … that was the 100th time I’ve done that.

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Can you imagine what the Smithsonian Channel could present based on all the amazing treasures found in the immense Smithsonian system of museums and institutions? And yet, when you say, “Smithsonian Channel” into your TV remote, nine times out of 10, they are airing a show called “Air Disasters.” Who is entertained by this series of catastrophic plane crash re-enactments? There’s been 19 seasons!

Same thing with the History Channel. Think of all the amazing stories and accomplishments throughout the entirety of humanity. But nine times out of 10, they are airing “Ancient Aliens,” a show that explores pseudoscientific hypothesis of ancient astronauts. They’ve made 260 episodes. What?! How? Why?

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I was sitting in a doctor’s office and the nurse is going over some paperwork. (The nurse always treats you like a moron who’s never been to a doctor.) As she tees up the depression questions, I interrupt and say, “I was just here last month and I answered all these questions then. Plus, when I checked in online for this appointment, I took the online depression survey. That would be the most up-to-date snapshot of my mental wellbeing.”

She responded: “Ok, I’m just going to run through these questions real quick.” LOL

Rose and me with Jokie at the San Pedro Chapel on Thanksgiving.

Polish Sausage

When I was little, we lived in Johnsville. My dad painted houses for Bruce Johnson Construction, who built all of the houses in the development in Blaine, Minnesota. Bruce Johnson Construction had an impressive softball team. I remember one time me and my dad went to watch a tournament, and we went right up to a food truck. I got a Polish sausage with sauerkraut.

It’s so weird what moments your brain retains.

I think I remember that moment because it was a rare outing, just me and dad. I miss those days, my dad and softball tournaments. I still love sauerkraut on my dogs.

Recently, Rose got our old videotapes digitized. It’s a lot of our little kids eating birthday cake in a sloppy manner. But with Carli and Jon are home for Christmas, Rose puts on one of the videos that shows a trip to Minnesota with an 18-month-old Carli in 1996. There was a birthday party for my niece Katie, my sister Mary’s oldest.

My video skills were rudimentary at best. Couldn’t hold the camera still, panned too fast. But then there would be a moment … “Oh my God, there’s Jon!”

I wish I just held that camera on him longer. My brother just walked through a shot, and I felt instant deep feelings of happiness … to see him alive again … and sadness at the same time.

We were all 29 years younger. My parents, my sisters and brothers all there. Margaret looked chic with her cool hair and sunglasses. Mary looked so young to me. Dave was just being Dave. Mark, same thing. Dave playing Legos with little Carli. Carli and Claire in a little car being pushed by my dad. Joyce holding Carli.

My mom would chastise me any time I pointed the camera at her, “Charlie! Get that camera off me.” On one shot we were at the zoo, and mom and dad were eating swirl cones in the shade. I persisted and got the shot.

I get a little bored — a little bit — with all the videos of my own kids jamming cake in their faces, but to see people who I love, who are no longer with us, is so bittersweet.

Another random memory … when I was four around Christmas time, I distinctly remember a commotion in the kitchen in that little house in Johnsville. Someone had broke into our house … and left a pile of wrapped presents on the kitchen table. It was Santa and we just missed him.

Dammit, we were so close to seeing Santa.

Ok, I think I can put the box of Kleenex away and write the rest of this holiday letter. New memories to remember. I hope you are well. Let’s get on with it.

Jokie Graduates

For several Saturdays early in the year, we took Jokie to a puppy training class. That was an adventure. All of the trainers liked him a lot, said he was very smart. On the first day, all 10 dogs were acting up, but the trainer told us to get our dogs to sit. Scratch their chest, he said. Rub their ears all the way to the tips. Before you know, all of the dogs were chill and quiet.

That class helped Jokie socialize being around other dogs. He graduated with flying colors. You could tell Jokie was proud of himself. I was proud of him. He’s a good dog.

Carli Graduates

In June, we traveled to NJ/NYC for Carli’s doctoral graduation ceremony at the Lincoln Center in the city. What a beautiful space to witness Carli walk across the stage and cross the finish line of an eight-year journey of hard work and dedication, working with dozens of academics across the country and the world. She received fellowships from Harvard, Yale, Northwestern and USC. Just so impressive.

Parents with the graduate moments before the ceremony. Photo by Kina Ackerman.

For me, I just love watching Carli — and Gina and Sam — interacting with people. All three of them are such good people. That’s what makes me so proud. The title of Dr. Carli Snyder is just an acknowledgment of her years of researching, learning and writing.

Rose and I, along with Jon, Sheryl, Kina and Garret, were in NYC in-person. Sam, Jokie, Gina and Katie watched from home. What a moment (and Katie is up next.)

But as long as we were in Montclair, we took the train into The City a couple more times. The Met had a major John Singer Sargent exhibition, which was a big deal for me because one of the centerpieces of the Fine Arts Center collection in Colorado Springs is a Sargent portrait. I’m intensely loyal to the FAC collection. But we also made a beeline to the five Vermeer paintings. (There’s only 42 known in existence. I’ve seen about 15.)

I’m always happy to see any Picasso paintings from his Blue Period. I should start collecting them. Do you know why they call it his Blue Period? Picasso was 20 and had just moved to Paris. A close friend had died, committing suicide in a café. So, one, he was sad. Two, he used somber blue and blue-green colors in a monochromatic and melancholy manner to depict forgotten people in society (Thanks internet.)

Back at the apartment, we went over our Italy itinerary on their TV monitor. Day-by-day, all the details. It made us all feel ready. Lastly, we visited The Frick, the neoclassical mansion of Henry Clay Frick. Not a great man, but he has a great collection, including two more Vermeer’s. We stood in line to get some ice cream from the ‘hot’ NYC spot, Caffè Panna, then said goodbye to Kina and Garret as the sun set. The NYC portion of our adventure was over.

The next day Jon’s parents stopped by the apartment to see us off, then we were on a plane to Italy.

Sculpture inside St. Peter’s Basilica.

Rome

I promised Rose that we’d go to Rome for our 10th anniversary and I totally kept that promise, just 23 years late. One day it occurred to me, “Wouldn’t it be great to have Carli and Jon there to navigate all of the logistics?” We had already visited D.C. together and that worked well. So, we picked June dates. I put together a draft itinerary, and then worked with a travel agent, Norma. She had an Italian partner, who arranged all of the ticketing and tour guides.

The tour guides were amazing. They had to put in 700 hours of training to become an official guide. Each one was an expert who ushered us around, navigating the crowds, while educating us on the history. The guides were just for the four of us. Walking in the Vatican Museums, Trastevere, Assisi, Colosseum, Ponte Vecchio and the Medici Chapels and Siena. They were excellent and we enjoyed just talking with them as people living in Italy.

Our hotel in Rome was ideally located, across the street from the ancient Temple of Hercules and a block from the River Tiber. On our first day, our guide Antonia met us in our lobby and took us on a walking tour of the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere. Pizza, pasta, and gelato in the golden hour. It was a beautiful first experience. I asked Antonio about the book, “My Brilliant Friend,” a famous Italian book that I had just finished. She said that her mother and grandmother lived lives similar to the characters in the book.

On day two after a refreshing breakfast in our open-air courtyard, Christian pulls up in a golf cart. First stop … Trajan’s Column in the Roman Forum. He drives right up to it and parks. It was early. Nobody was there. I was giddy happy. Trevi Fountain. Spanish Steps. Then we picked up Pepe who took us through the Colosseum. He had to be in his 70s, but he darted through the crowd like a soccer player. He played hide-and-seek in the old arena as a child.

It was fun careening down the road with Chris. He wore a ton of cologne, I mean a lot, but it suited him — he wore his collar up — and I liked it. There was a nice surprise after the Colosseum; Chris took us to a church to see Michelangelo’s sculpture of Moses, which was on my wish list.

The Colosseum

That afternoon Gabriela took us through the Vatican Museums. I had read Ross King’s book on the Sistine Chapel, so I had some insight. I was happy to see the fresco by Raphael in the Pope’s apartment, where he added Michelangelo after seeing the Sistine Ceiling for the first time. Unbelievably, Jon bumped into a student from his high school in the chapel. All of that was a lot, but then we were energized by going into St. Peter’s Basilica through the Holy Door, two bronze panels, that are only opened every 25 years going back to Michelangelo’s time in the year 1500. Bernini’s stunning gold altarpiece and staggering staircase were two highlights, along with Michelangelo’s La Pieta, a sculpture that he created at 24. Gabriela stuck with us in the basilica, quietly sharing information, including that she herself was baptized in the massive church.

What a day. The beginning of the tens of thousands of steps on the cobblestones. We went across the river that night and dined with the locals in Trastevere.

The next morning, Father’s Day, we hopped on a train to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance. Our guide Francesca met us at our hotel, and walked us to the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval stone bridge at the city centre that survived World War II. I was blown away to see Brunelleschi’s Dome, completed in 1436, with my own two eyes. The building of the cathedral started in 1296. The dome is epic and the church white, red and green marble is a sight to behold. We toured the audacious Medici Chapels, dedicated to the family that ruled Florence and supported the arts. The tour was mostly about their scandals, which didn’t interest me. Finally, Carli found a small place with food and drink, including a delicious dessert of tiramisu and panna cotta with sour cherries, a personal favorite.

After three really active days, we took it easy on day four. This was the day Jon ate the famous Italian ‘cow stomach’ sandwich. I had fried green olives. After walking everywhere, we took a Lyft that evening to our cooking class with Chef Emmanuel, a gigantic highlight. Together we made pasta, ragu sauce, chicken cacciatore and tiramisu. And drank a lot of wine. Emmanuel was a fun guide. He was excited to learn that Carli just graduated from school in New York City. (The next morning he shared his personal recipes with Carli.) We decided to walk home, and we stumbled upon an outdoor film screening next to the massively impressive Pitti Palace.

The cooking class with Chef Emmanuel.

The next day we took in the Uffizi Gallery with its collection of ancient sculptures, paintings from the Middle Ages and many masterpieces found in art history textbooks, like Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’ and Caravaggio’s ‘Medusa.’ It was packed. I had to employ my art museum ‘street smarts’ to get around the large tours of people, listening to audio tours in front of famous painting.

That afternoon we were off to the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, home to Michelangelo’s ‘David.’ He was standing in just the second gallery. This was a major bucket list item and I made sure to take my time, taking it in. I didn’t want it to be over too quickly. We sat at the back of the gallery, just being there.

That night I convinced everyone to venture up the hill behind our hotel to Palazzo Michelangelo for the sunset. I scoped out a restaurant for dinner too. There was a band at the top of the hill, creating a party atmosphere with people from around the world The views were spectacular with the sun setting over the Arno River with the Duomo and the cityscape in the distance. We watched the sunset then had a great dinner nearby. But the best highlight was yet to come. As we walked back down the hill, we joined the crowd surrounding the band, bouncing up and down, singing Coldplay’s ‘Viva la Vida.’ It was pretty electric, euphoric.

They played “Three Little Birds” and “Get Lucky.” It was so great to be in that crowd experiencing it. We bounced all the way home, our last night in Florence.

We left Florence in a rental car with Jon driving through the countryside to the hill towns of San Gimignano – whose name we all learned to pronounce that correctly – and Siena. In ancient times regular folks lived in the country down in the valley. But when warring factions showed up, everyone would move up and into the hill town within the safer confines of the city walls. The upperclass, living in the town, built towers for various reasons as additional protection, as a lookout, but mainly to display wealth. Today there are 14 towers, but there was once over 70. I just really loved how this town was set up with the two squares surrounded by towers and the scenic overlook where you could sit outdoors at the wine bar enjoying the vino and the Tuscan valley vista below.

I enjoyed the award-winning gelato of Lemon / Crema di Santa Fina (cream with saffron and pine nuts) at their world-renowned gelato shop. I also bought a cycling jersey and some bike gloves. I wish I would have bought five of each. Jon was a busy shopper buying linen shirts and pants and Italian sandals.

In Siena, we were given an insider’s tour of the former city state’s 17 districts, and their famous horse race, Palio de Siena, which I had seen featured on Rick Steves and Stanley Tucci. I feel like we were all made honorary members of the Contrada dell’Oca or the Goose district, which traditionally does well in the horse race. We were given access to their trophy room and even got to ride last year’s winning horse around the city centre square. The Goose district was also where Saint Catherine lived, one of Italy’s two patron saints. We had another great conversation with our guide, an Aperol spritz and a view of the famous square.

(On our Siena tour we walked on the ancient pilgrimage and trade route, Via Francigena, established in the Middle Ages, from Canterbury to Rome. I read Timothy Egan’s book, “A Pilgrimage to Eternity,” a memoir of his travels on the 1,000-mile path.)

That night we checked into our room at Hotel Villa Marsili in Cortona. We stayed at a Villa. Rose and I had the nicest room with four windows that opened up to the beautiful views. We were up a hill; it was quite a view indeed. Oh, the bathroom was big with a whirlpool bathtub. I’d take a shower then soak my feet in cold water in the tub, while listening to the DNVR Nuggets podcast.

We had a wine tour the next day at the Bindella Winery in Montepulciano. The ride to the winery was a highlight. The landscapes are indescribable. Gorgeous. There I describe them. We were expecting a tour followed by a sample, but instead we got a five-course delicious meal with wine pairings and a beautiful view. Jon, our driver, didn’t imbibe. The rest of us got wine drunk on wine. Loopy.

Then we swung over to Pienza, another hill town. Still drunk but enjoying the town in the heat, mid-90s. All of these hill towns have fantastic views, but this place had ‘the view.’ It reminded me of a Christopher Nolan film, “Inception.” Maybe the hill was more hilly, but the angle of the landscape seemed unearthly.

Rose and Charlie Snyder posing in Pienza

In Pienza. Photo by Jon Rose.

I chatted with a young man from Estonia, who was visiting with his family. He said it’s only a three-hour flight and that they’ve visited Italy many times. Their extended family was taking up three floors of a hotel. As I made my way back up the walkway, another young man, brother of the first, stood in the middle of the path with his arms folded in front of his chest. I said to him as I passed, “Are you the bouncer?” He said, “Yes I’m the bouncer.” I laughed, smiled and waved back to the group.

As we were walking away, the young man translated the encounter to the family and, as one, they all busted out in laughter. That made me happy.

After seeing so many amazing places — seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the vistas, great food and the people, enjoying every minute, we’d all like to redo the entire trip. We left a lot on the table and miss it every day.

Samma-Lamma-Dingdong

Sam is the president of the Pima Community College’s Film club, elected to the position by his peers. They do Friday night screenings. Sam has one more semester to go, but this last year was a big step forward in his filmmaking. He’s been tapped to act in other students’ films. He made many short films, including this one, ‘Concrete Curse.’ I like the lighting, the shots, sound editing and, as always, Sam’s excellent acting. He’ll be working on his capstone project this spring.

Sam’s Top 10 Movies of 2025 (in no particular order)

Sentimental Value
One Battle After Another
Reflection in a Dead Diamond
Sinners
No Other Choice
Eddington
Friendship
Weapons
Hamnet
Die My Love

Gina-Bo-Bina

Katie and Gina braved the subzero weather at Christmas time in Katie’s hometown in Alaska. They had to hurry through -30 below temperatures to get to the hot tub.

The Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center invited Gina to their annual Purim Ball, calling her an “incredible asset to the community” for her work with TIHAN. I went to Poz Café, an event that Gina organizes, a lunch for people with HIV. Everyone stopped me that day to tell me how much they like Gina.

Rose and I always love to hear Gina sing with her choir “Desert Voices.” Gina often gets solos, but I want to hear a Gina concert. This year Gina expanded her artistic pursuits. She started blending and layering with oil pastels. She drew me an outstanding still life of a lime slice with an orange/yellow background.

Keynote Address

Rose was asked to speak on leadership as the keynote address at the Tucson Young Professionals event, 520 Ignite! We went to their reception and hung out with all those young people and proceeded to drink them all under the table. They’ll learn. They’re still young.

Rose was invited to a dinner at The National, a restaurant downtown, by the Homing Project with an author on the first day of the Tucson Festival of Books. We sat next director of Tucson Trust for Public Lands and he was the person who recommended our travel agent. Rose ran the CEO Survivor Series and Leading with Purpose and Passion for the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona and did a staff retreat for our friend, Audrius, at his new school, the Lyford Cay International School in the Bahamas.

Rose is done with the community foundation as an employee, but she will continue in the new year facilitating programs and will continue with her consulting business. She’s planning two exclusive three-day retreats, limited to just 12 women, one at the beautiful La Foret, surrounded by Ponderosa Pines in Black Forest, north of Colorado Springs, and another in Woodland Water Tower Ranch, a historic 12-acre ranch in Tucson.

I’m a fan of The Moth podcast, so we were excited to see their live event in Tempe. At the last minute, I contacted Jason Miller, an old intern of mine from the U.S. Olympic Committee. He is now in charge of marketing for ASU athletics. I’m very proud of him. It was great to see him after 29 years. The Moth storytellers inspired Rose and later in Tucson she went on stage to tell the story of our rescue puppy. The night’s theme for the Female Storytellers group was “Secondhand.” Rose did a great job, speaking extemporaneously. Two couples from our neighborhood attended — that was really nice — at the legendary music venue, The Rock.

Save the Rock petition.

Peggy and Jokie.

Our next door neighbor Peggy, who has always been so nice to us and Jokie, had a medical issue this year. She staying at a facility that has no working television, so Rose and Sam downloaded her favorite TV programs (The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie) and films. Rose stays in constant communication with her; Peggy sends a nightly text. She was especially tickled when Jokie came for a visit; he’ll raise anyone’s spirits. Now each day Jokie runs over to Peggy’s driveway to pick up her newspaper and bring it back to our house.

Rose is very thoughtful and caring. She’s also been helping her mom, Mary, who had a fall last December, navigate home care with Grandpa Chuck on the phone and in Phoenix. It’s good to have Rose in your corner.

La Fonda

In October, Rose and I made a return trip to Santa Fe. I was there for a conference held at La Fonda, the historic hotel designed by John Gaw Meem. We added an extra day to celebrate our 33rd anniversary. The hotel provided us a bottle of wine, a meat-and-cheese platter and a large coffee table book about the hotel. Later on, I met with hotel historian and he showed me around. If you get the chance, you need to stay at La Fonda.

Favorite highlights … Our first dinner in a little place where the bartenders, wait staff and guests were singing enthusiastically with the mariachi band. The hotel tour. La Fonda is basically a southwestern art museum. Popping in and out of the galleries on Canyon Road.

My Bike

I fell off my bike hard in a construction zone and smashed my left elbow and hip on the pavement. Not cool. But that was on me, I shouldn’t have been there, riding near a backhoe tearing up the road.

Nevertheless, I rode 3,140 miles on the year, a personal best, and hit a milestone of 16,500 miles biked in Tucson. Pro tip: I got new tires and that made a HUGE difference. I wore those old tires OUT.

I paint-by-numbers now in between of puzzles: Florence, cacti, Amsterdam and now a turntable with 50 different paints. (Thanks Jon). I’m not very good just yet, but I enjoy it.

I volunteer with the Friends of the Pima County Library District Board.

A highlight of the year … I introduced myself to an MFA graduate student, and she said, “I’ve heard really good things about you.”

Final Note

Our first night at the Villa in Cortona, Jon and I walked up the hill and got a beer and some pizza. Afterwards, we stopped at the little cookie station in the hotel lobby. There were a few different kinds of cookies. Jon got two of one kind and I thought, “He must like those cookies.” There were little shot glasses and an after-dinner liqueur. John poured two shots and I thought, “Oh, how nice, he poured one for me.”

But then he steadies himself and gets ready to walk to the elevator. I think, “Oh shit, he got an extra everything for Carli.”

I felt a little shame at Jon’s thoughtfulness, and I hurried to get two of everything for Rose.

At the elevator I said, “You’re always thinking of Carli.” And he said, “I’m always thinking of Carli.”

When we got home to Tucson, I tried to be more thoughtful. I shared my popcorn more, for example. I bought Rose a pint of ice cream, but on the way home from Target, I decided that we could share it. Then Rose didn’t try it right away, so I ate the whole thing. It’s an ongoing process, but I’m trying.

The most important decision that you’ll make in your life is your spouse.

I chose wisely.

I wish everyone health and happiness in 2026.

Charlie’s Italian Book List

Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling, by Ross King
The Bookseller of Florence: The Story of the Manuscripts that Illuminated the Renaissance, by Ross King
Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture, by Ross King
My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante
A Pilgrimage to Eternity: From Canterbury to Rome in Search of Faith, by Timothy Egan
Inferno, by Dan Brown
Four Seasons in Rome, by Anthony Doerr
Leonardo da Vinci, by Walter Isaacson
Oil and Marble: A Novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo, by Stephanie Storey
Young Michelangelo: The Path to the Sistine, by John T. Spike