April 3/Stamp. Fiber. Mercy.

I've reached the Gewerbeanmeldung stage. It is a rite of passage, except instead of a mask and a spear you receive a form that asks you to define your business activities in terms that won't accidentally trigger a tax investigation.

Four hours on forums dedicated to Kleingewerbe rules. The core question: hire a tax consultant at €200 an hour, or walk into the Finanzamt and hope for a clerk having a good day. This is the founding dilemma of German entrepreneurship — professional security versus the mercy of a civil servant who has the power to classify your life's work as a hobby.

I'm going in on Tuesday. Least threatening sweater. I will be warm, direct, and slightly deferent. The bureaucracy responds to sincerity better than strategy.

My mother called. I made the mistake of mentioning I was 'exploring something entrepreneurial.' A pause. Then: 'Your cousin Stefan works at Allianz now. Very stable. They have a canteen.' I thanked her for the update. She said she'd light a candle. I'm not sure yet whether that's support or a warning.