I had been working in my department for three years when I was introduced to a new member of our team. She was tall and elegant with black hair hanging down past her shoulders and a short skirt revealing a pair of really nice legs. They gave her the office across the hall from me. We hit it off right away and I quickly grew comfortable around her which is unusual for me. I am the oldest of three children. I was the scholar, my sister, the youngest, was the princess and my brother was and still is the athlete, the jock. He likes to email me jokes which are almost always politically incorrect. After a month getting to know the new employee I felt so at ease I decided to risk forwarding my brother's latest. Here is what I sent her; A Japanese businessman flies into Los Angeles to meet with some potential customers. He stops at the currency exchange window to get some dollars. "How many dolla for 100,000 yen?" The clerk replies, "$840." The businessman picks up his dollars, conducts his business and flies back to Japan. Four months later the Japanese businessman is back in Los Angeles. He stops at the currency exchange window again and, by coincidence, sees the same clerk. "How many dolla for 100,000 yen?" The clerk replies, "$800." The businessman is puzzled. "Last time $840 dolla for 100,000 yen, now only $800? How come?" The clerk explains, "Fluctuations." The Japanese businessman's face becomes very red and in anger he replies, "Well, then, fluc you white people too!" A few minutes later she appears at the door to my office, hand on hip, looking angry. "Mark", she says in a serious voice, "I just want you to know I do not appreciate..." And then she loses it. She is laughing so hard she has to lean against the door frame to keep from falling over. And I think, "I could really get to like this girl." Its ten years later and her skirts are longer and the hair is shorter but she still has that great sense of humor. This is my best friend Li. She is smart and funny, strong and compassionate and I love her like a sister. She recently became a grandmother which provides me with all new opportunities to tease her. Oh, and the garden gnome standing next to her? That would be me. I forgot to wear my pointy hat that day. Note: This is Number 1,000 in a continuing series.