Found Time Is Good

So I am supposed to be heading home today from the Highlights Writing Conference where I have enjoyed 3 days of work, fun and growth. An excellent, restorative experience I’m so fortunate to have been a part of. As we were saying our goodbyes, taking photos and generally beginning the transition back to the real world, I got a text that my flight had been cancelled. The next flight is early in the morning, so I’m sitting on the porch of Uncle Jack’s (glorious) cabin while rain hammers down on the tin roof. It is delightfully deafening, forcing air back into my lungs after the stress of flight cancelled, what to do, don’t freak out…my mind is a hamster on a wheel,

I’m going to get some more writing in, try not to be struck by lightning, and try to enjoy this found time.

Salina Yoon, one of my favorite authors, who was presenting, sharing and generally hanging out here talked about “found time,” that time where you are stuck somewhere and you accomplish more than you ever would if you were home or if you planned to do that work at that time. As a writer I am going to look for more found time. I am going to keep the TV off and put my phone on airplane mode when I find it (that is find my phone and that time.) It is valuable and shouldn’t we wished away — I’m so lucky to have found more time with Uncle Jack!

Highlights Writing Conference 2019

 

Highlights Writing Conference!

Day 57 of Summer Vacation (10 days left in summer)

I have done precious little writing this summer. Adjusting to being more involved in the business, doing some extra work in the summer for the school district and attending professional development has put my writing on the back burner.

But this week, I’m going  to be cooking (back burner/cooking/metaphor much?)! I am so excited to be at the Highlights Foundations’ Ins and Outs of a Picture Book workshop in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The photos above are me (happy face) in my cabin which overlooks a wild grassy butterfly garden and word rock garden (LOVE). It is like I took a little relaxation/creativity pill and I am selfishly going to read, write and eat the delicious meals the staff here prepares for us. I already had lunch and it was great and I didn’t load the dishwasher or tip anyone!! Yippee.

I do have to say that I couldn’t do any of this stuff without Jeff’s constant encouragement. He has always said, “go for it,” when I’ve dragged my feet on anything that is just for me — and I am so grateful.

Our official start is today at 5:30 (appetizers) followed by 6:00 pm dinner and our welcome. But I’ve already met a lovely lady, Ellen Javernick on the shuttle from the airport. She wrote this book I have in my library and she let me borrow her iphone charger because mine died. I feel like I’m hanging out with the Beatles (and borrowing their stuff) and I am trying to be cool. I am excellent at being cool.