Luckily, when she is stunned she is also speechless so she was a well-behaved baby for most of the flight.
We flew into New Orleans, where our guardian angel/hostess Anna met drove us to Hattiesburg...
the most hospitable hostess you'll ever meet! She even took us on a tour of New Orleans after the festival!
after a quick stop for some fried oysters:
YUM!!!
And it was in Hattiesburg that we realized that Anna's completely and amazingly warm and hospitable nature was not just exclusive to her. Everyone who was a part of the Book Festival was incredibly thoughtful and kind. They set up a conference room all full of toys just for Rain Dragon to play in!
When I first saw the room, I asked if there were other children at the festival...but it was all just for Rain Dragon!
She absolutely LOVED it. She didn't want to leave!
And perhaps because she knew everyone was so friendly that it was at the conference, right before my keynote speech that Rain Dragon decided to take her first steps! She had been stumbling and standing for days before, but it was at the conference that she finally strung together three or four steps--walking from the stage to table and grinning the whole time. Needless to say, the conference will always be a happy memory for me.
to a complete set of the original OZ books (which I admit I covet! I might have to start collecting these myself):
One of the funnest things about the Festival and the Collection is how they honor a different children's book creator every year with a special coin. The author/illustrator chose what image they'd like embossed for the back (the front is always their image).
There was Beverly Cleary with Ramona:
Ernest Shepard with Winnie the Pooh:
And, of course, there was Ezra Jack Keats, whose entire works (or at least most of it!) is housed at the de Grummond:
including the beautiful art from The Snowy Day which I adore (and I admit kind of inspired these photos):
which was also epitomized in the last of the many kindness the festival showed us. Yes, they gave Rain Dragon a Peter doll!
Though she does treat him rather roughly:
She loves him!
and now that she's walking she's impossible to get a still photo of, too!
I posted this on my facebook page but I thought I'd put a little note on my blog as well, just for those not on facebook:
Things have been so busy that I haven't opened my reader mail since X-mas...and I realize that school is now ending. If something was sent that needed a response before school was over (a teacher who wanted bookplates for her students, for example), please e-mail gracelin.manager@gmail.com and I will try to get things out ASAP. If you can, please include the number of students, address, the last day of school and any other pertinent information just in case I can't find the letter (also it will be faster!). I can't 100% promise my response will get there in time, but I will try!
So, things are finally starting to calm down and this poor neglected blog will soon be getting some attention! Yay! I've missed connecting with all of you.
So, I spent Mother's Day moving. We've been moving in stages, but this was our last and final move. One of the reasons we've moved so slowly is because I've had a hard time letting go. From Robert to renovations, there are a lot of memories and emotions about the apartment that go beyond mere homeownership for me.
But just like before, I've found solace in the quote "You only lose what you cling to." By choosing to leave the apartment, I don't lose the memories, but I do let go of the past. Which makes room for the future.
And I realize how apropos it that it was Mother's Day that I left this apartment behind. Because it's Rain Dragon that initiated our move. It's so we can give her the home we want, to be the family and mother I want us to be. Because I'm not just moving, I'm moving forward.
You might have noticed that things are a little quiet here at the blog. Well, not only is my school visit schedule in full swing (I promise posts about my trips to MS and MD), we've sold the apartment (as long as nothing falls through, knock on wood)! The real estate market has definitely bounced back, it was a little crazy how quickly and how much interest there was. We're happy the apartment has sold but we weren't prepared for it to go quite so fast...and now the schedule is even crazier! So sorry for the radio silence and please stay tuned as I promise to return once things calm down a bit...