The bar’s been raised
I was a guest speaker at the Tennessee Association of School Librarians this past Friday and Saturday and now I’m ruined.
Ruined because this will be the conference that I measure all others against. Partly because it was held in lovely Chattanooga with enchanting fall colors I don’t see in Houston. Partly because it was the conference debut of my first children’s book, Substitute Groundhog, and it sold out.
But mostly because I was treated even better than royalty–I was treated like family. I was picked up by Deborah Neighbors at the airport. She has a neon smile and came with cold water, trail mix, and a bag of assorted bakery cookies. Nancy Dickinson, programming chair, made sure I had lunch and checked in with me often. In fact, someone was always looking out for me. A trio of librarians took me to their room for Chinese food; a librarian dragged an easy chair into a full session so I could sit; a blacksmith made me a unique gift from a Chattanooga Railroad spike. Even the many who visited with me after my sessions and during autographing were unfailingly kind.
There was reserved seating at the front tables for meals, piles of my books at the ready, all needed equipment set up and working, handouts crisp and waiting. The visit was absolutely perfect. Yes, TASL in Tennessee has ruined me. And I’ll be forever grateful.
