So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen Goodnight.

Boys and girls, it's that time of the month, no not that time of the month, well, actually it is that time of the month, but what I really intended to write about was that it's time for the powers that be to ship my little German playmate home (G2) and send me another one bright and early Monday morning (to be known as G3). G3 is a woman, a mother even, who decided to come in December because it is a short month and so she'll be away from her daughter for only three weeks instead of four. Obviously it will be a very different German of the Month dynamic, but I'm hopeful I'll be able to have a good time with her as well.

G2 and I continued to have lunch and dinner together a couple times a week, where we would discuss things like the future of the European Union and the death penalty in America. Then we would return to the office where he would propmtly try to shut me in the closet of sneak up and and put a cold soda can on the back of my neck to make me scream. You know, standard German-guy-in-the-office fare.

I'm not quite as devastated as I was when the original GOTM left; maybe because I understand now, hey, there's a new German Credit Analyst wonk just around the corner, and a whole home office full where that came from. Maybe I'm feeling comfortable that my future is undeniably moving in a direction where I'll have the opportunity to spend a year or so in Germany with these crazy fools myself. Maybe I'm coming to a zen-like acceptance of the fact that nothing is permanent. Or maybe all the coffee and Diet Coke I've had today is diverting precious moisture away from the part of my brain that allows me to experience emotion.

So Godspeed G2, I wish you happiness and a safe return. I'll miss throwing around the ol' rubber band ball with you, I'll miss going to restaurants where you tell the waitress it's my birthday, and then arguing with you when you tip the waitstaff 10%. I'll miss the way you helped me on with my coat, and the way you made fun of my accent. I enjoyed making fun of your accent too. I appreciate the advice you gave me and I hope I gave you some things to think about as well.