Off I go, TTBs, to Paris. I have high hopes for this trip as a communion with friends, all of whom came into my life through the songs. You know how important that is. I will sorely miss my family, but I will travel with the ghosts: Dad, whose pride at reading my French reviews filled me with happiness... Brian, who was thrilled at the early plans for this trip, which gave us some of our final bonding smiles... Bobby, who forced Gainsbourg, Piaf, and Trenet on my teenage ears, to my eternal gratitude... Pete, who loved the city of Paris and always hoped to return.

I hope to post some entries here as opportunity permits, especially if the show is webcast, which I think is gonna be the case, and if so I'll post the URL. Take care of America while I'm away, enjoy the freedom fries, and check the NY Post next Sunday to see if my Love Boat piece runs. Gavin MacLeod himself told me that this trip was going to be an enormous success and would change my life in wondrous ways, but I'll settle for his kind imprimatur, some good cheese and - yes - a wee dram of absinthe or two... à bientôt, motherfuckers.