19 April 2026

Thank you to everyone who reached out after my post of last week. I’m so grateful for the love and support of my friends and loved ones.

This past week was eventful.

My friends Eric and Dan were here from Sunday to Wednesday. I first met Eric in 2001, when we started working together at Boise State Radio. Eric was Membership Director. I was the Program Director.

These days, he and his husband Dan spend a month or two every year in Bilbao Spain. So, I have visited them there. They were here last year for Fallas. It’s fun having this Boise/Spain connection with them.

We spent a lot of time doing the usual tourist things, including visiting the Cathedral, the Lonja de Seda (silk market), Serrano Towers and more.

Monday was the Feast Day of San Vicente Ferrer. So, most stores and businesses were closed. We took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the festivities, including processions, and a mascletá.

Other big news is that I started a 10-day class designed to help immigrants integrate into Valencian and Spanish culture. The Class of Integration is free. But it took the help of my attorney to get into the class. And they didn’t notify me of when, where or any details of the class until Tuesday afternoon for the first class that started on Thursday. So I’ve had to juggle a few things. But taking this class should ultimately help with my immigration process. Oh! And I should add that I’m understanding enough of the class to feel like I’m actually getting something out of it. That’s not always the case when hearing Spanish spoken. I’m doing it! I’m learning…little by little!

We started on Thursday with an overview of the history of the European Union and some basic Valenciano language. On Friday, we took a field trip to the Valencia History Museum. I’m enjoying the class, with people from around the world, Gambia, Columbia, Russia, Great Britain and more.

Thank you to those who reached out with words of encouragement for La Traviata on Friday!

We did it!

After months of memorizing the lyrics in Italian, practicing, stumbling, and memorizing again, we pulled it off! It went well and it was very well received!

There were a few places, I had to “fake it.” But overall, I was proud of all the work that both I and the choir did. The soloists were really wonderful!

My friend Hans, (from Sweden and the U.S.) and his wife Sue from the U.S. have a lovely place near Denia, where we performed. So, he came to the performance and invited me to stay there for the weekend. I enjoyed a very restful and therapeutic weekend by their pool and at the beach.

I have more U.S. friends arriving this week. I hope you always are surrounded by good friends and feel loved and supported wherever you travel.