ppppfffffffhhhhhhhhhhhfff.......hh..hh fffffffffp

That was the collective sound of the energy being let out of Germany. It's been a wild ride these past three weeks and now the ride has come to an end. It's like leaving Disney World and heading straight to the office.

See this?



The last time this happened, with the flags and stuff, was about 60-70 years ago. In fact, one time Alexander asked me what the big deal was about the 4th of July with a sneer on his face. Like- oh that is so garish that you wave flags, play songs and celebrate your country. Understandable, the germans haven't been allowed to wave flags for quite some time now.

World Cup (and our new female leader) provided a brief view of what it would be like in Germany if Germans were actually... happy? positive even and excited about something. I heard stories from Germans (and Americans) of people from all over the world who were having the greatest experience ever in Germany. There were stories of people who held a map up and within seconds Germans were directing them to right place. There was holding hands and skipping down the street. Horns honking. Witness this after the opening game. This is just a group of people walking to the subway. It was like a love parade come to life, living within each of us. The country has thrown its collective arms out to foreigners: brown, yellow, black and other whites. I read a touching article on how the entire town of Würzburg became Ghana fans because the team stayed in their city. The whole town came out to support them at practice, in the streets, everywhere. Don't forget that Ghana is in Africa. There is no better PR for a country than having loads of people feel that they would like to travel back. (hear that, Lufthansa?) Warms your heart and makes you feel like you could be in Italy with all this hospitality.

This from a people who told me not to smile so much so that I don't look mentally challenged. This from a group of people who think it is perfectly normal to correct my german in the middle of my sentence regardless of how well or long I have known them. I like living in Germany, but I have liked it even more the past few weeks. For three sweet weeks we were all retards walking the streets. That is, smiling.

I watched last night's game alone because watching Germany play with Germans hopped up on World Cup is too much. We were at a BBQ last Friday night for the Germany Argentina game and honestly I was more nervous about the mood at the BBQ if Germany didn't win than anything else. Hey guys- we are still gonna do steaks if Germany loses, right?



Are we watching soccer here or someone drowning puppies? By the way, I am there in the back sort of in on the action´too. Yes. I have some friends. Well actually, I have neighbors who wanted to borrow our fat LCD screen TV and it was a package deal. That complete Euronerd in the back was intolerable. See how he can't even sit down to watch the game? He stood up smoking his big, gay, Euro cigarettes, hyperventilating the entire game with his big, Euro, funky glasses until Germany won when he freaked out and tried to convince everyone to screw the BBQ and go get drunk in the city to celebrate. Slow down, Helmet. If Germany wins we get steak, remember?

After Germany won I was also happy, but I just couldn't keep it up like the others. Everyone was dancing, yelling and playing German football songs. I just wanted to go home and in fact pretended to be filming the noise on the street to avoid having to make any noise myself. What is wrong with me?

So I stayed home and ate steak by myself during the game just in case. My scary intuitive genius was worried Germany would lose because they were optimistically expecting penalty kicks (which they never lose) and might let up the pressure instead of scoring and ending the game. Everyone knows you can't score against Italy's defence so just hold out until penalty kick time. You can't let up the pressure against the Italians. They know how to find the holes in the back and stick one in. Oh snap! Then there was this whole thing on how Germany has never lost in this stadium. I think they call that Hubris or something. Holy Tower of Babel. The goal from Italy happened about 2 minutes before it would have been penalty time which tells me that the Germans exhaled and then got sucker punched. Anyway, my steak and salad enjoyed alone in the quiet calm of my own freedom of reaction and emotion was delicious(a little herbes de provence, some tomatoes and a few awww mannnn when Italy scored) God, why didn't you make me a Joiner?












So this is what we have now. We went from jubilant nation to depression. I cry large tears of remorse for my adopted country. Without the jubilation and optimism, these people will just go back to being surly with bad hair coloring. I truly hope it is not going to be another four yeas until Germany puts a smile of its face. Yellow card for any fart face I see! Red card for hair color not occuring in nature.



















What is encouraging is that the mood seems to be calm and respectful. Sadness, but everyone agrees it was a good, fair game. Italy played great and so did Germany. Respect all around. You can gloat now, Tom! I only wish I was an Italy fan. Instead, I am rooting for this guy, who has joined us from a land and time far, far away where they have limited dental care, but quite a lot of football skills.

Allez les Bleus.