Happy New Year

Wow, our first New Year's Eve celebration here in Germany. Cherie, Travis and I joined most of Cherie's co-workers at Stephen's house. Despite my designated driver status, I had a good time.

It was also another layer of complexity added to my feeble understanding of our current home. I understand that I am dealing in generalizations; but since I lack empirical data, they will have to suffice. For a people who seem to be reserved to the point of iciness, they can celebrate with abandon--at a fest, in a beer tent, or, like last night, in their neighborhoods.

I was blown away by local folk's celebration of New Year's. Church bells rang, people cheered and each block seemed to have at least one group launching fireworks. It was something special. Flashes and bangs came from everywhere. The smoke from the pyrotechnics was so thick that it burned one's eyes and throat. The church bell clanged wildly ringing in the new year. And then after the bell fell silent and the smoke drifted away, snow began to fall--a clean white page for the new year.