Should be packing

I hate packing. In fact, I don't even really "pack," per se. I set everything out (and that's agonizing enough) and then my husband gets it all to fit. For his 40th birthday, I kidnapped him from work and took him to Manhattan for a surprise three-day weekend. The biggest thing he couldn't believe is that I actually packed—for both of us, no less.

Have to be at the airport tomorrow morning at 5. Gack. When I arrive in Vermont seven hours later (knock on cyberwood), the lovely saraharonson will pick me up and whisk me away to meet tanyaleestone and Cynthia Leitich Smith for what promises to be a fun lunch. (I just hope I'm not too ugly and spacey from the early rising/travel gunk/whatnot.)

I've been SO EXCITED to go. Imagine: 11 days packed with lectures (interesting ones!), readings, workshops and general shenanigans with amazing children's and ya writers from all over the country (and a few from other exotic locales, too). Ellen Wittlinger is one of the guest writers. Ellen Effing Whittlinger! I hope I don't embarrass myself by falling at her feet. Our entire focus is on great writing and reading (well, also icy margaritas.) We're away from home; no cleaning or cooking (as if I do that anyway, but still...) And the residencies are just the beginning of the six-month semester, where you work one-on-one from home with an amazing writing teacher.

I can't believe my first year of this MFA program has gone so quickly; and just one more to go! I remember when I first heard about the program in 2000, at my first and only national SCBWI conference in Los Angeles. Going to Cali had been a gift to myself for my first year of freelancing. When I heard about a graduate school program focused on writing for kids, I thought, "How wonderful! But there's just no way I could do that." Think of the time away from home! The expense! I am thrilled that eventually I was able to break out of that limited thinking (turning 40 helped).

The only thing is that I hate the actual traveling part of traveling. Yesterday I started worrying about plane crashes. (It's silly, I know.) I'm feeling sad about leaving my husband and son. (Although, at the same time, I will LOVE the freedom of getting away to Vermont, and I'm sure they'll love kicking back in a guys' only way, too.) I hope my cold clears up asap!