Our summer vacation.
As you all know, Connie, my wife, went through cancer treatment in 2021.
She came out fine and in great shape, but with shorter hair.
We decided to celebrate by taking a cruise on a small ship around Spain and North Africa.
So we were off to Barcelona to rendezvous with the ship.

On the first day, we hired a guide to take us to northern Spain, which was a location where they shot some Game of Thrones episodes.
At the top of a giant staircase, in an old 15th-century village, Connie tripped and went face first. Total face plant.
All I can say is Spain has great, free socialized medicine. After two hours, six stitches, and two hundred dollars, we were back on the ship.
For the next several days, people looked at Connie, and then at me. I knew what they were thinking! Finally, one passenger came up to Connie and asked what happened. Connie explained, and we were accepted back into the drinking group.
The following seven days were uneventful. We saw old churches and sidewalk cafes that had great food and met friendly people. We couldn’t ask for more.
On our last day in Lisbon, I noticed Connie could not keep up with me on our walk around the city; I asked her, “what’s up? Are you not feeling good? You are slow today!”
I will not quote her reply, but I knew she was not feeling well.
Several days before our flight home, the United States changed its policy requiring a Covid test to enter America, or we would be locked in a hotel room in Spain for ten days; Connie tested positive on arrival back in Scottsdale.
I asked Connie, “do you want me to stay or go to Sedona”? She said GO!
I know Connie pretty well after five decades. She didn’t want me around because she knew I would use the stove.
You must understand that Connie sees the stove like an antique car owner sees a 1952 Porsche 356 America Roadster.
The stove and all cooking services are to be looked at but used as little as possible, cleaned, and waxed immediately after use.
Connie was sick and didn’t want to be cleaning the stove. She just wanted “Tuna on crackers,” the only food she knows how to make.
So, off I went to the supermarket, loaded up on crackers, white wine, tuna, mayonnaise, onions, and hard-boiled eggs. That’s right–even using the stove to boil water is no reason not to disassemble it for complete cleaning.
We have been married fifty years, so I get it. Off to Sedona and back to work, or so I thought!
When I arrived at El Portal, Terri, the hotel manager. said, “no way! You’re going to work at the hotel! You could be a carrier.” Come back in ten days with negative test results.
I said I did pass the test. I am negative. Terri said, “But you could still be a carrier.” Damn, what was I going to do for the next ten days?
So up the hill to our home in Oak Creek Canyon I went. At least I can mow the lawn and plant some plants.
When I arrived, Fran, our guest of 20 years (don’t ask), said no way you can’t stay, she is a cancer survivor, and I could be a carrier! “Come back in 10 days”, with negative results.
I passed the Covid test and feel great, but I’m treated like an old boyfriend with an STD Infection. I could be a carrier.
This would never have happened if I had more male friends and employees. Women are straight-up logical. They don’t rationalize their way around a problem like men.
Luckily, I have several male friends that own hotels where I can get a room. I check in on Connie several times a day. She is living on crackers and tuna, watching home make-over shows, you know, the ones where the wall between the kitchen and dining rooms needs to go, so the owners can see the kids. Don’t get me started on HGTV, that’s another story.