Whoa, what a ride

I pouted about going to the SCBWI Winter Conference because I didn't want to travel or get up early or talk to people. But, just like at the NCTE Conference I attended in November, I ended up having a blast and making good connections. The flights were smooth (both the getting through airport security and the flying), and I only had to get up early 2 of the 3 mornings. Plus, despite being worn out by social interactions, I actually enjoy chatting with people. I even hug total strangers (I almost hugged the flight attendant on the flight home).

The room at the Midtown Hilton was spacious and the view out the window was not too shabby.

Even better, I ate lots of really good food, like this French cream donut at Le Pain Quotidian for instance.

I will have more photos of food and the conference in my next newsletter, so sign up for that if you want to see them!

While it was nice to forget a little bit about democracy crumbling around us, I couldn't (none of us could, really) completely put it out of our minds. I wore this ring which served as a constant reminder.

You see, this ring was given to me by one of my mother-in-law's best friends. Louise's family was from Germany, and although they weren't Jewish, when Hitler rose to power, they knew they needed to flee the madness. So her father converted a lot of their money to jewelry so it would be easier to escape with. She gave the ring to me because she felt a bond with me as we are both immigrant brides to the U.S.

I think of Louise whenever I wear it, and, now, I also think about how sad she would be, if she were still alive, by the fact that America is turning into the fascist Germany of her youth.