As it happens, on the 1st of July 2015 Intel celebrated a merger of its German subsidiaries. Thus, the company I was leaving turned into something else overnight, and so did I. Still, some formalities remained to be dealt with in the afternoon. There followed a relaxed ride down the fields, woods, and dales: all three traffic lights were on green.

On the way out, having parted with those who cared, I predictably bumped into a group of strangers in the lobby, all clad in black, some with ties. Oh my! It was a sunny summer day, peaking around 30 degrees Centigrade in the shade (mid eighties if you read Fahrenheit). My light sandals, white shorts and a white T-short felt like a perfect fit.

Picking up a farewell present for good memory, I sailed through the throng like a Spanish galleon laden with gold, put on a straw hat, and headed to a lake.

“I want to break free…”

(to be continued)