4in15: Disturbing the peace

Some borders shouldn't be crossed.

When, in 1985, Luxembourg and four other members of the European Community, signed the Schengen Agreement, a good dose of shortsightedness was on hand. Forget the viability of a single currency with no real fiscal union to speak of. This treaty was a total failure of vision. No provisions were made for a major future calamity: the Gongo.

Yes, some 26 years, 3 months, and 16 days after some very well-meaning and well-dressed Europeans met up in Schengen (which is in Luxembourg no less), we put that Treaty to it's toughest test yet. Euro crisis? That's petit section next to this!

Our trusty Jetta, which just celebrated its 14th birthday, screamed passed the now abandoned border controls. Luxembourg is tiny, we had to be careful not to drive too fast or we'd end up in Belgium, or worse yet, Germany.

I could feel the nervousness of the diminutive population. But I wasn't worried. I knew that if anyone could arrest Gongo's barbarian invasion it was Melina, the master of diversion who, at each moment, managed to amuse the beast and hive off his attention in directions that would reduce damage to the Grand Dutchy.

And indeed, a wonderful time was had by all. There were white wolves and docile goats, ice cream, racing cars (I'm well on my way to a Forumla 1 career), picnics, fine wine, green apples, red apples, apple juice, princess costumes, and that great event that we were all waiting for: Constantios' birthday! Yes, the Lion of Luxembourg gathered his own troupe of high-energy toddlers for a crazy afternoon fueled by baby gym and chocolate cake.

By Sunday night the Gongo was safely back in Paris, eating pizza, and the Grand Dutchy of Luxembourg slept peacefully...and largely intact.

I was born in the Euro zone and I'm-a-gonna-stay in the Euro zone 'cause if the EU can pass this test, it can survive anything. Still, Francs are so romantic...