Well, not really free. At the moment I am on a cruise ship about to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar. I left Palm Springs on Monday and spend a night in Barcelona. Visited some of the places that David and I had visited. I am spending four days in the city after the cruise before heading to Paris and Biarritz for the Holidays.

I have to say, cruising alone is taking some getting used to. There is a scene in Grace & Frankie where Jane Fonda loses it, because a cashier ignores the older women to help a young attractive woman. I am finding it is the same for an older man. On a couple occasions here on the ship, I have been waiting in a line, and I’ve been skipped right over, to help the couple behind me. Like I didn’t exist. Fortunately, in each instance, the couple has said, “This gentleman was in front of us.” Weird.

I was seated at dinner with two couples from Barcelona. We managed with their limited English and my non existent Español. I used a bit of my French (one of the couples lived in Paris), but tomorrow, I will change my table. Not fair to them or me. Dinner shouldn’t be work.

Before dinner, I went to the LGBTQ+ gathering. A variety of nationalities. Lots of youngish lesbians traveling with their parents, which I thought was nice. At a certain point, I looked across the room, and I had mistakenly ended up with the young crowd. Later in the evening, I ran into one of the Aussies at karaoke with the live house band. He insisted that I sing something. Fly Me to the Moon was the choice. I was OK, Dave, the now pretty plastered Aussie, thought I was fabulous (his word, not mine) and insisted I sing some Elvis with him. Can’t Help Falling In Love.

Happy Thanksgiving. Aside from a turkey option at lunch, there wasn’t much mention of the holiday on the ship. Most of the passengers are not American, which is fine by me. Although, tonight at karaoke, two, Irish or Scottish women sang a very entertaining drunken Let’s Hear it for the Boy. I was just an observer this evening. No Aussie to encourage participation.

So, it is now a year since David passed away. I thought the date November 23rd would be a tough day, but fortunately, my High School friend Anthony and my Palm Springs friend, Andy were with me. Thanksgiving was a different story. I decided to treat myself to Sushi. Again, something David and I would always do on a cruise. The Sushi was great, but halfway through my miso soup, I began bawling, and cried off and on for the rest of the evening. I’m OK and going to end now. Good Night.