Auf Wiedersehen Deutschland!!

This is officially my last entry in Germany. We fly back to the States tomorrow morning. What an adventure it has been. The flight home should be an adventure of another kind, flying with a two month old. Yes, sweet baby James is two months old today. Amazing.

I’ve been kind of emotional the past couple of days, due to stress among other things, but today, in addition to that, I am sad to leave. I’m ready to go, emotionally, but it’s still painful. I have never met nor had better friends in my life. Friends that go out of their way to be there for you. If you need anything, they offer even before you ask. I will be sobbing on the plane I’m sure.

I will miss the friends that we’ve made and the country itself. The landscape is beautiful. I’ve never seen such green rolling hills and mountains and probably never will. The old buildings and castles are humbling. And the beer....Ahhhh...I’ve mentioned that several times before. Enough said about that.

My last hurrah here was the annual Dorf fest here in my little town last month. They block the streets on Friday afternoon and start partying then. It lasts all weekend. I met my good friend Meggie there (it was right across the street and the stage was set up practically in front of our building). My husband was nice enough to babysit and the baby slept the whole time anyway. I forgot that I haven’t drank more than one beer at a time in about a year. Phew. Wasn’t feeling too good the next day and decided that it’s just not worth it. My priorities have changed, finally.

What craziness it is to leave here. We were waiting for the baby’s passport which did arrive last week thank God. It’s so funny because, like all others, they have to take his picture for it. He looks like any other newborn in the picture, a little old man, although the picture was taken a month ago and he looks so much different now. My husband has been going crazy getting about fifty signatures from this department and that one. The government has to make sure that you’re squared up with everyone and don’t owe any money or have any equipment, etc. We had to write a letter to the satellite TV company to get it cancelled, as well as the phone and internet. German’s like all their i’s dotted and T’s crossed or else. I was amazed. Yes, they are very efficient, but anal could also be a descriptive word in some ways, as far as I’m concerned! Sorry!

We’ve been lucky enough to be staying in our friend Martin’s house for about ten days. He’s been wonderful and let us take over his house with our suitcases and baby bottles and dirty laundry. I’m sure the chaos has been driving him crazy although I think he likes the company. He’s been practically family since we first arrived here anyway. His eighteen year old daughter lives here as well. She left for Tuscany on a class trip today. How cool is that?

Auf Wiedersehen Deutschland and all of our friends in it! We plan on coming back for vacations, but not until the baby is a bit older. We will miss Germany, but are glad to be coming home to our own country and family. It will be an adjustment I’m sure. God Bless America! Good to be coming home!