When I lived in Germany, most motorists had nationality stickers on their vehicles. West Germans co-opted their socialist brethren claiming the "D" for Deutschland, leaving the East Germans to use "DDR", Deutsche Demokratische Republik.
Poland was "PL", France was "F", and Great Britain (pre-Brexit) was "GB". Switzerland was "SUI" and Austria was "OS" as I recall. My favorite sticker was "NL", often appearing like a murmuration of swallows on the autobahn during the summer holiday periods for The Netherlands, or Holland as so many Americans called it,
The Germans took the "NL" to mean Nur Limonade, as Dutch drivers were notorious for driving nonstop through Germany, using the high-speed highways to get them to destinations bordering Germany, rarely stopping to eat or to stay overnight, pausing only to purchase a soda, the limonade the "L" referred to before resuming their drive.
The Netherlands is quite lovely. We tend to think of it in the spring as the Tulip Kingdom and Tulip Tourism is certainly a part of the appeal of a stay there but now the fine folks of McDonald's have come up with perhaps another reason to come to call and I can only hope their latest creation doesn't overwhelm the delicate fragrance of the tulips. But I think the tulips may find themselves at a disadvantage.
Take a deep breath and hold it. Exhale slowly. Repeat as needed.
-bill kenny
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