After a somber and sedentary holiday season, including therapy sessions and NO TRAVEL, I cut loose with a short spring break visit to Dublin and London with my 12 year-old daughter Lisa and her friend Stevie, a detente of sorts with Sandy, including a visit to her new home in Minneapolis, and then a 2 week snorkeling odyssey in the Virgin Islands with my daughter over Father’s day.

In 2 weeks I meet Sandy on San Juan island for a week, then 3 weeks later I fly to Minneapolis for a 1 week road trip with her through the Boundary Waters, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.  Three weeks after that, I meet up with her again in Amsterdam for 15 days through northern Holland to Brussels, Ghent and Bruges, and a ferry ride across La Manche to Dover.

Yes, I’m perfectly aware that I’m bragging; the therapy, drugs and renewed travel finally seem to be working...

At this point in my life, I can honestly say that Spain was just about the best trip I’ve ever been on - especially those lazy, sun-filled and wine-drenched days at the cortijo, and I can’t wait to go back - any way at all.