From California

Because I had to wake up at 4:30 a.m., I preemptively woke up at 4:00 a.m., 4:10 a.m., 4:16 a.m. and 4:26 a.m.  A friend of ours drove me to the airport.  He was waiting in my driveway when I emerged from my quiet house at 5:00 a.m.

When I arrived at Sea-Tac, I checked my bag at the curb, waltzed through security (in my stockingfeet), rode a shuttle to the gate, and walked straight onto the plane where I sat alone in a row of three seats.  We jetted off with rain pelting the windows and then, thanks to the miracle of altitude, blue sky appeared and we left the rain behind.

When we landed in San Jose an hour and a half later, it was like landing in Oz.  Blue blue skies, fruit trees in full bloom, tulips in gaudy splendor, Stellar Jays flitting from branch to branch, bright greenery every where.  Even better than that, my two friends, Annie (of http://annieblogs.com) and Sarah (of http://Sarahmarkley.com) met me at the airport rental car shuttle.  (Who needs a good witch in a sparkly dress when you have Sarah and Annie, anyway?)

I met Annie last year when one of my blog readers mentioned to her that I was also going to Mt. Hermon–she knew that Annie was going because Annie mentioned it on her blog.  Annie emailed me.  I invited her to join me at lunch with my friend Linda (http://lindavujnox.blogspot.com) and Linda brought Sarah and voila!  A friendship was born.

We drove to the conference grounds in a rental car, checked into our room, unpacked, noticed a swarm of ants in the corner of our cabin, reported that fact to hospitality and thus began our conference experience.  I took a ten minute nap this afternoon, but otherwise am propelled purely by the fresh air and gladness of heart.

My husband is at home, doing the Mom thing, minus the laundry, the cooking, the cleaning.  (What is left?  Just the yelling, really.   And taking out the recycling.)  I am grateful he is willing and that he encourages and supports me.  However, I am pretty sure he is never going to get to retire early due to my rousing success as a bestselling author.  The odds are against that happening, but in the meantime, he can dream.