All we would have to do is turn on the machine.Finally, Holly came out, and with a hug and kiss for each of us, Linda and I went to bed. We kissed and...caressed each other for a bit, but it had been a long flight and day, and soon we were both drifting off to sleep.The next morning we had breakfast at the restaurant in the hotel, and Ginger was waiting for us in the lobby. The same Towncar drove us to the convention center, and we said we would not need her until after 10, if at all. She said. "But do you have a girlfriend? Where is she?" I'm officially playing the field sweetie. Remember I've only been down here six weeks." But you've had sex lately?" I pressed, the drink giving me courage."Yes, two nights ago," Dad replied grinning."WHAT? With who?" It s none of your business," Dad began, but as he said it I knew the old bugger was dying to spill the beans, and he finally added, "Actually a barmaid I happened to meet, a very nice, intelligent, young girl" A barmaid! How old was. The gloomy weather brought back bittersweet memories of my first trip toParis, a lifetime ago. Would that desperate young man on the run evenrecognize the wealthy woman he had become? At least she used to bewealthy! I was pondering this as we hurried across the tarmac into awell-appointed lounge to wait for our suitcases. After a cursoryinspection of our passports by an unctuous civil servant, I was surprisedwhen Mom handed me an envelope and told me to sit down."What's going on?" I asked. Where it had been totally antique furniture, she had more of an interest in clothing.She had collected period dresses from her trips to France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. She had immaculate lace from Belgium and Burano, Spain.To say things had not been going well was an understatement. Her husband had taken an early retirement he did not want because of the drop in enrollment during the recent recession. He had started his own refinishing business a few years before that, but it too had been a.