My friend J

"Your not fucking Asian!" I think were my first words to him,  As I handed him a cold Becks beer and Welcomed him to Frankfurt. I had at that time in my life only chatted online with close friends and a few strangers I met while commenting on their blogs. This was to be my first real life encounter with a bloggie. It was severel months before this day that "J" had written in his blog that he was going to Frankfurt to see a soccer match between Frankfurt and my favorite team Werder Bremen. I commented that I too would like to go to this game with him. I don't know what I was thinking at the time. I am a pretty private person. I am not really outgiong and the thought of meeting new people always scares me a bit. I said I would go but honestly I don't think i ever intended to go. As the day of the big game got closer and closer I still did not think that I would go. Even my wife looked at me quite funny when I told her I was going to meet a person I met online. As I sat there in the train station I was still asking mysely why I was there. I couldn't answer that question, but I waited anyhow. Then he showed up! Holy crap! I looked at him once, twice and then a third time and still couldn't believe he was not Asian. I have no idea why I was so certain he was Asian. It was funny. I had him all  figured  out just by reading his blog and I was 100% wrong about everything, but it did not matter in the least. That opening line was a good starting point for our conversation. It only took a few minutes before I realized that he was going to be a really good friend. We got along just great from the moment we met. That never happens to me! I can always find something to make myself not like a person. "J" was a pleasure to get to know and to this day I still consider him a great friend. We only see each other once a year or so, but every time we meet I am always thankfull that he is my friend. a PROST to you my non-asian friend. You are  a class act! Because of this friendship with "J" I have also met some other fantastic people. Jen, Christina, Sparky, Valian, Carol are folks  I have met in person and there is so many sooo many more I have had the chance to meet online. You are all great people. I am looking forward to meeting so many more friends  at the WEBMU 2011 Meetup in Köln later this year. I know we will have a great time. See you there!