12:40 pm

One of the things I enjoy so much about Dave and Gitta, as well as the others I met last night, is that they're so real. It's cute the way Dave teases Gitta and she's embarrasses by his actions. Like when he put on Dweezil Zappa after we were listening to the very soothing sounds of Out of Africa. I, of course, wanted to hear Dweezil, but Gitta thought it was not appropriate and begged Dave not to put it on. And just joking about farting from the lentils and talking about feeling fat. It was just like being with my friends. They are my friends. Perhaps, I even knew them in a past life. I'll take a walk to Fuengirola today and come back for a drink at the bar.

1:30 am

I have to write! It's been just over 24 hours since I left Detroit and already my life has changed so much! I met this guy, Dave, on the flight to Málaga. I was supposed to sit by this fat woman, but Dave agreed to change seats so she could sit by her husband. I found out he was a tour manager. He knows Ozzy Osborne, Duran Duran, Wham, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Dave Edmunds, Jeff Beck, Adam Ant, Level 42 and Frank Zappa! He was coming back from seeing frank in California after an aborted tour with Ymengme Malmsteen. Anyway, we were talking on the plane about my decision to move to Málaga. He was very supportive. Said he knew I would do well, etc. It was so nice to hear that. He said he truly believed in fate and that he was meant to sit by me to encourage me! Maude! I told him about Maude and the movie "Harold and Maude." He said the only other time he switched seats on a plane was to save a guy's life. The drummer on the Wham tour in China was possessed and stabbed himself on the plane to Beijing, but Dave pulled the knife out! Anyway, he asked if I was staying in Málaga and I said I think so. He talked about how smarmy it can be and was thinking (I think) about having me stay in Torreblanca with him and his Norwegian girlfriend, Gitta. But he didn't -- yet. Near landing he told me to take a good look out the window because I was embarking on a great adventure in my life. Hell yes, I was! I asked him for his address so we could keep in touch and he said he could find me a place in Torreblanca for $60 a week! I, of course, accepted! Gitta, Dave, their dog, Minka and I drove back down the Costa del Sol highway and stopped at a German pub in Fuengirola. Had a couple of drinks and went back to their place. While Gitta prepared "dinner" -- open-faced sandwiches -- Dave and I went to get some champagne from their bar. Did I mention they own a bar?!? It's a tiny place overlooking the Mediterranean. I was so stunned. It was incredible. Just perfect! So we had a beer and talked. He showed me his Frank Zappa and Level 42 pictures. Gitta eventually had to came up to get us. We went back to their apartment and had some food and wine. It was so nice! I still can't believe it all happened! Then they took me up to their friend's place (he's in Saudi Arabia.) This place is paradise! Oh, I forgot. Dave's a healer. He's into crystals and stuff. We talked about that for a while, too. I hope the future stacks up to the present!


8:00 pm

I wandered about town a bit today. Bought some groceries. Found the train station -- only $35.00 for a monthly train pass including Málaga and back. I could really stay here instead of living in Málaga for the 4 week class. We'll see. I called Bettie and Matt. I told Matt all about Dave and Gitta. I'm about to go down to a party at their place. How cool! Fate has control of my life. I'm just going along for the ride. And enjoying it!

4:20 am

I was getting travelers checks at the credit union today. The woman asked where I was going and how long. I said Spain and I don't know. I told her I was moving and she was so excited for me. She said her parents loved Málaga. The guy at the service station giving me the emissions test was equally impressed. I like making that impression on people's lives. I've been writing constantly. I've been writing a letter. It's so fun sharing my experiences.


10:00 am

Transferring from Heathrow to Gatwick aboard a very bumpy bus. As you can see from the writing. Ah, London. I do love this place. Hate the weather! It took me 20 minutes to find the right place to get a voucher for the bus. It's free, though. Travel always includes uncertainty. And delays. Luckily, I checked my bags through to Málaga. that's a relief. This small backpack and briefcase are heavy enough. I'll never be able to carry everything. Maybe I'll have to break down and take a cab in Málaga. I'd like to find a hotel barrato so I could stay at least two nights and get a bit settled in. A lot of birch trees here in England. It's a dreary, chilly day. Can't wait to see the sun! Back home, they're still in bed. Eating a Kit-Kat bar, thinking of Lark. I have so many friends. I am truly blessed.


11:30 am

Lots of police here at Gatwick. No trash bins -- I guess they're too easy to place bombs in. And, yes, the bobbies do carry guns. At least at the airports. You know, I love British commercials. I'm watching TV in the lounge. Very graphic and stark adverts about smoke alarms and immunizations. I should stop watching TV. It's numbing my brain.

7:20 pm

Well, here I am. On a British Airways Boeing 747-400 -- a massive aircraft! There's even an upper level! There's an empty seat between me and a Greek man who was visiting a cousin in Detroit. I think he said he owns a hotel on a Greek island. Hmmmm. Suzanne drove me to the airport. We managed not to cry. Just choked back those tears when we said good-bye. I still can't believe this is happening! Today was so damn hectic! I didn't get to clean the house or buy a pair of jeans that I wanted. Oh well. Just stay focused on the future. Here we go -- taking off! Heavy cloud cover tonight. Can't see anything. We're stopping over in Montreal. I hope no one sits here on the way to London. Unless he's cute, of course! Back to my day. It was so crazed. I still didn't have time to dwell on what I'm doing. But as Suzanne says, I've never done this before, so how should I know how I should feel? Enjoy the experience!


8:15 pm

Wow. I'm listening to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. Free headsets, y'know. I used to fantasize acting out this song. Ooh. How annoying. The pilot just broke in saying we're about to land in Montreal. I hope it's not a long stop-over. I'm pretty tired. I hope I can get some sleep. Stereo headphones. "Galileo, Galileo" in alternating ears. "Let me go," too. What a fun song. This is how I write when I'm high. Well, I am at 38,000 feet. What an adventure life can be! If you choose it to be. I have! There's a group of obnoxious guys on the plane who must be on a hockey weekend to Montreal. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is No. 17 on this week's International Top 20. So many stimuli. So much going on. "Black and White" by Michael Jackson is "The world's number one!" Arrgh! An hour lay-over in Montreal!


8:55 pm

I should describe my frantic packing. I can't believe I've been planning this move for months and still I was so disorganized! I was throwing things into boxes to be stored at Steve and Bettie's. And my bags ended up being packed to the gills. I found my class ring and put it on my finger at the last minute. I was emptying out the refrigerator even after Suzanne had arrived. Then the mail came. A package I had sent to Alyssa came back. I don't know why. So I called her toll-free number from the airport. Hectic, hectic. I still haven't relaxed. On to other news. There's a really cute guy sitting across the plane from me. I don't suppose he'd be going on to Málaga from London! We're on the ground in Montreal now. I have $1500 in travelers checks and 60,000 pesetas cash. Not a lot of money, really. Maybe three months worth. Guess I'll have to meet a rich man within that time! Lots of snow here in Montreal. Didn't see the city lights at all. Heavy clouds. All those people out there in their trucks, doing their jobs at the Montreal airport. Just like anyone else anywhere else. What a cool world we live in! Travel is so mind-expanding. I wonder if that cute guy and the Greek man are wondering what I'm writing. An airline worker just said, "Excusez-moi." Wow. We're in a foreign country!