Writer's Conference

I wake before the alarm and get ready.  Carrying my purse and sling bag, I leave the house and feel the sunshine on my face.  There is dew on the back window of the car, so I wipe it off with a towel.  Lights and defroster on, I back down the driveway and point the car to the east and the library about 67 miles away.  I have googled the directions twice and cautiously written them with a big black sharpie on a piece of paper.  I spent some time studying the map, and I am confident that if I am careful and read the road signs that I will find the library and the writer's conference with no difficulty.  I am impressed by the large, brown brick library with the sun shining overhead.  No sooner, do I park the car and open the door when I hear, "We're so glad you're here!  I'm the president of the Writer's Association! What do you write?"  And so the day begins.  A delicious breakfast of bagels, breakfast rolls, fruit, dip, juice, coffee.  The President welcomes all to the writer's conference.  I find my first workshop "Out of the Horse's Mouth, Mistakes to Avoid."  I am pleasantly surprised to find that the author lives near me.  After the workshop she graciously lets me be photographed with her!  On to the second workshop, on micro fiction.I write some micro fiction and read it to the writers. After lunch, the keynote speaker addresses the group, reminding us that stories have a beginning, middle, end, that we all have tales to tell.  We smile and clap when she tells us that Hollywood producers are reading one of her novels.  I attend a workshop on Memoirs and on Harvesting Your Journal.  As awards are presented, I wipe a tear from my eye and congratulate the recipients.  I say farewell to my new writer friends and head home.