This week and last were filled with so many interesting and touching connections that I simply can’t leave for the weekend without mentioning them. Each has affected me in ways that I am not able to articulate well yet, though I will continue to sift through them and ponder…
There was a connection with the second-graders in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts who were tickled to learn that my father-in-law was once a second grader in their beloved Paton School; and the connection with my father-in-law, who was tickled to share his funny school days stories with me; a colleague from my graduate school days, a woman I have not seen for more than ten years, stopped in to reconnect on the morning I visited her son’s school (it was good to see you, Gul!); and yesterday I attended a moving tribute to a man I never met—a man who died much too soon—whose friends donated copies of my book to the schools he grew up in.
I have been so moved by these seemingly random and yet powerfully purposeful connections. They are layered atop the many other relationships forged over the past four years (my TRASHy years): men and women of science whose work I have grown to admire so much, writers and publishing people I have come to know and learn from, the interesting and generous people who invite me to their schools, or who visit this blog. I have always known that books transform lives, but I continue to be astounded at how much this one book has transformed mine.
Connectiing with Curt Ebbesmeyer in Ocean Shores, Washington
Photo by Betty Jenewin
I’m off to make more connections at the New England SCBWI Spring Conference. Details next week, of course. In the meanwhile, have a great weekend.