This is a dream! I can see it
now. InScribe’s 2017 Fall Conference
would be just beginning. It’s my first
writers’ conference. Having fairly good
self-awareness I’m somewhat nervous.
Although I may have interacted with writers I admire on Facebook I have
never met them in person. I mutter to
myself, “Oh boy, what am I going to say?”
What am I doing here?
Being here at our
InScribe Conference reminds me when my wife and I stayed in a B & B in Barkerville
in July 2016 for a couple of days.
Barkerville is a historic gold rush town in BC and is now a popular
tourist attraction. We met some
wonderful people including Marnie and Wally Pohlmann. Marnie is an InScribe member. Once I
discovered she was a writer and part of InScribe I got all excited. I began talking to myself inside my
head. Terry, my wife, did it the other
way. She actually spoke to Marnie. We had been chatting for a while about life in
general. We eventually shared our passion for writing with each other. I wasn’t sure what to say. I sensed myself getting quiet, in an
introverted kind of way. I was thinking,
“I’m sitting here in Barkerville in a small hotel, drinking tea with another
writer!” I will never forget that
evening. I will never forget Marnie and
Wally! My introduction to a real writer.
I have the same
sense of excitement here at the 2017 Conference. Wow, I’m here! I’m actually here! Oh boy, what do I do? Who do I introduce myself to? I see familiar “Facebook” faces only they are
not only faces, they are walking, talking, beautiful people!
Oh oh, I think
someone just noticed me. It’s Ruth L.
Snyder, the President of InScribe, and she’s walking my way. Maybe she sees someone behind me she wants to
talk to. Nope. She is definitely looking at me. Another lady has joined her. I see its Tracy Krauss. Tracy gave me the opportunity to blog for
InScribe. Oh man, my hands just got all
sweaty. I’ll just lean up against the
wall and try to look cool. Wouldn’t you
know it? Just as I begin to act cool I
spill my coffee on my pants. Here I am
with two ladies I’m dying to meet heading my way and I have coffee stains on my
pants.
Things are going
well. I’ve enjoyed talking with Ruth and
Tracy. I don’t think either of them
noticed the coffee stain. Maybe its
because I held one of those really neat cloth napkins from the table and
strategically covered the stain. Ruth
and Tracy have made me feel so welcome. This
is cool!
I notice as I look
at my pants the stain is beginning to dry and it’s not as noticeable. I feel happy about that. I feel even happier when another InScribe
friend approaches me. I’ve wanted to
meet Bobbi Junior for ages and now here she is smiling in front of me. Her book When the Bough Breaks moved me.
I know that a
writer’s Conference includes such wonderful things as workshops and book
tables. I look forward to learning and
taking away some invaluable knowledge.
I’m here to learn and to grow as a writer. First, I am looking forward to hanging out with
some of my writing peeps.
This is all a dream. I have to wait
a year for it to come true! Oh well, it
will be worth the wait! See you all next year!
