The Best Freindships are Broken

First a quick update on Jim.  He met yesterday with the Urologist and all the tests point toward the need for surgery.  He will meet with the surgeon who uses the DaVinci robotics machine tomorrow at 7:30am our time.  We are praying that the surgery and recovery can fit in between our returning from getting all our household furniture on Feb. 5 and leaving to fly to Emily's wedding on March 11.  Please, pray that this will be possible.

Now the rest of the story...

Friday was Karston's birthday.  Karston and Gerlind are the couple we are living with right now.  Friday morning after language lessons, Jim, Steffen (Jim's language teacher and our good friend) and I were sitting in living room enjoying a few moments of talking and laughing.  Suddenly, I heard a crash and shatter.  I had kicked off my water glass onto the marble tile floor.  Now, this was not just any water glass.  This was the Eule (Owl) water glass, much used and loved by Karston's grandchildren.

I had taken great joy in drinking out of that beloved glass, and now it was smashed to smithereens...AND on Karston's birthday!  This is when dear Steffen came up with A PLAN!  Yes, Steffen is that kind of person.  You must always watch for the twinkle in his eye because you know something is about to happen.  He grabbed my computer and started searching.  "Success!"  OK, Steffen, what do you mean by "Success!"?

So, here was the plan.  Steffen had found a store in town that sold the beloved "Eule" glasses.  He would walk over and make sure they had them.  If they did, he would text us and he would buy one.  Sure enough, a few minutes later we received a text, "Success!"  I quickly wrapped up the broken Eule glass to present to Karston for his birthday, then Steffen would pull out the new one and present it before anyone started crying (especially me!)

All went as planned.  Karston came home and we gathered around to have coffee and present our gifts.  When it was my turn I told him this was somewhat of a confession, as well as a gift.  That I had made it myself, but I wished that I could say that Steffen had made it.  This went on for just a bit as he became more and more curious.  I handed him the box, he opened it, and this was inside.

Steffen--See the "twinkle"?

As tears started forming in everyone's eyes (I am exaggerating a bit!), what relief I felt as Staffan pulled out his gift and presented it to Karston.  I leaned forward as he ripped the wrapping to reveal...TWO BAGS OF BONBONS!?!?!?!?  What had happened to the Eule glass?  The one that was going to save me from the wrath of all the grandchildren?  Steffen just looked at me and shrugged.  Now tears were about to be forming in my eyes!  Then Steffen slapped his knee and said, "Oh, I forgot!"  He got up, removed a package from his backpack and, yes, this time there was not one, but three Eule glasses!  Yes, Steffen had pulled one over on me and he's been enjoying that victory ever since!

I can't believe it and I'm NOT making this up, just as I am finishing writing this, Jim walked in the kitchen and knocked over one of Gerlind's flower vases!  It just shattered all over the kitchen floor!  Now we have one of two choices, either move out soon or call Steffen!!!