A DAY OF FIRSTS

Much was packed into a single Saturday.

While I’ve attended workshops, conferences and seminars, I had never attended a symposium until yesterday. I like that word. Maybe it’s just me, but there seems something elegant and a bit mysterious about a symposium as opposed to a conference.

I was delighted to be asked to be part of the program as a panelist, discussing writing with other Hoosier authors. I also got to spend time with Janis Thornton of Tipton, author of the cozy mystery, Dust Bunnies and Dead Bodies. Good things always happen when I see Janis, herself a former newspaper editor in Frankfort. Months ago she told me to look into submitting something for a crowd-sourced book, Undeniably Indiana, published by Indiana University Press.

I did and my essay is in the book, which comes out in September.

My gratitude to the American Business Women’s Association, Raintree Chapter, host of the perfectly paced day of learning and networking. What a nice bunch of women.

Two firsts: a symposium and a panel.

Driving back to Pendleton, we experienced the strangest weather I can recall. The wind was blowing so hard that it felt like the car would go off the road – or take flight. It rained, then slushed as splatters hit the windshield in what one can’t really describe as rain, snow, nor sleet. It was slushing!
Meanwhile, we ran the car heater. It sure felt good on my sandaled feet. I also carried a summer straw purse. But I needed a winter coat and gloves.

There were patches of beautiful blue in the sky with the clouds putting on a show. It felt like anything could happen: Severe storms, thunder snow, tornadoes or maybe even, the sun would stay out (it was trying) and all would be gorgeous. Four seasons of weather seemed to appear together during a single car ride.

Before dark it snowed, and for a little while, the white stuff came down so furiously it was a virtual white out. But then the beautiful sun came out for moments and it was a beautiful spring day.

This morning, snow frosts our landscape, including the cushions on our summer-porch furniture which we evidently prematurely got out of storage. And our beautiful ornamental cherry tree blossoms appear defeated.

Two more firsts: snow and sandals in one day.

Then it was over to friend Terri Fredericks for a pitch-in supper in honor of friend Donna Shields’ April Fools-Day birthday. Terri is a gifted cook and baker and Donna had a hankering to learn how to make homemade marshmallows. So that was the agenda and they were a beautiful thing to watch take frothy form in Terri’s KitchenAid Mixer.

One additional first: homemade marshmallows.

Five firsts in one day. It was an interesting, eclectic day.