I cannot think of a time in Soenke and my relationship when I had to flat-out lie to him about something. That is, other than perhaps massaging my answers to the following questions: “Honey, how much DID those shoes cost anyway?!” (”um, a lot less than you would think!“) or “Did you ever get around to filing your German taxes?” (”they’re almost done!“) or of course “Babe, was that you or Sophie who farted!?” (”wow, babies have a lot of gas, don’t they!?“)

But in the case of his Top Secret Bachelor Party, I had to use my Oscar-winning capabilities to totally snow him over. And that I did. So on Friday, November 2nd, when Soenke thought *I* was babing up to go out to *my* bachelorette party (which was not a secret, except to Soenke who didn’t know that it was scheduled for the FOLLOWING night…), a rowdy bunch of his friends showed up at our place ready for some bachelor mayhem! Soenke was totally floored. And TERRIFIED. You see, in Germany it is tradition to completely humiliate the bachelor by forcing him to dress up in ridiculous costumes and sell stupid stuff to complete strangers while out in public. As it turned out, this occasion was no exception. His loving buddies had prepared a very special sassy red stewardess uniform for him to wear while he peddled various sundries along the Reeperbahn. His customers? Drunk citizens on their way to the next bar. Soenke LOVED it (NOT!) Later, he mused as to which German tradition was worse: the humiliating German bachelor party experience, or the humiliating Turning-30-But-Not-Yet-Married tradition of sweeping the Rathaus steps in a ridiculous costume of your friends’ choosing (see my Luneburg post from way back for further details). The jury is still out on that!

Now, ME, on the other hand, played the “Tired New Mother” card, and hence was able to avoid any and all embarrassing traditions on the night of MY bachelorette party. My fabulous and sympathetic girlfriends (nearly all mothers themselves) understood my suffering and hence agreed to a very civilized affair at my favorite restaurant - T.R.U.D.E. We sipped champagne and ate the world’s absolutely most delicious cake ever made (Kirstan, WOW!) and I was completely surprised by a hilarious and cool assortments of marital send-off gifts, most of which I will leave to your imagination…

And so, feeling fully partied-and-prepared for matrimony, we set off a few days later for California where the fun has just kept going! More on that to come…

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Here’s a shot of the handsome merry-making bachelors:

T.R.U.D.E. got quite an eyeful from the activities at OUR table:

In a zillion years, I could never create such a masterpiece:

Kirstan slices into her white-chocolate-and-raspberry delight (with 8 sticks of butter in the DEEELISH frosting!):

Sally & Irmi model their island-wear and enjoy some cake:

Kim Reer proudly displays her Jennifer button (don’t ask! but they were hilarious!) and Pat Ritz gets in the Island spirit with a kukui bead necklace:

Klaudia and Mehmet’s sister Naciye are the masterminds behind the Jennifer button:

Tina Brammer & Tracy Moede look cool and local:

Kara actually made it! And with 6-week-old Emily!!

Alyssa Gerhards and Jennifer Lane definitely are in the island spirit:

OK ALL YOU NOSY HEATHENS, this is the best I got. Didn’t get a photo with the other half of Jen Lane’s gift!