We're driving down and back from Cincinnati, OH. This will be at least two vacations: on land and at sea. We will be away for almost three weeks. We can't travel beyond three weeks because my partner has to have infusions every three weeks for the rest of her life. (She has variable immune deficiency disease, for those in the health care field.) My mother always said I was a frustrated travel agent. I'm thinking we'll head straight south to New Orleans to start things off with a bang. (Evie's first trip and my second, but I was very wild and young the first trip.) On to Orange Beach for a few resort days on the beach. We'll take our time going down the Florida Gulf Coast and go straight across to Ft. Lauderdale to spend one night at the host hotel before departure on the cruise. I adore Olivia. I turn off my cell phone and don't use a computer the entire time. I swear my mid 60s brain gets completely rewired. I teach my last class at UC/Osher Institute next week and after a brief respite I'll be working for the Democratic Party through the November election. I also resume teaching in September for the Fall 2012 Quarter. I should be good and ready for a vacation in early 2013. It seems like only yesterday we greeted the new century with such hope for the future. Life has treated me well these past few years in Cincinnati. I try to give back to the city for all of the wonderful cultural events, friendships and family that have come into this exNew Yorker's life.