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Excitedly, in the airplane, as a continuous monologue:
MOMMY, IS THAT THE PLANET EARTH?
MOMMY, LOOK AT THOSE CLOUDS. I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO BOUNCE ON THEM!
I REALLY WANT TO EAT THEM! I WANT TO PUT THEM IN MY MOUTH. THEY LOOK SO GOOD!
MOMMY, I THINK THOSE CLOUDS ARE A GOOD HIDING PLACE. I WANT TO HIDE IN THEM!
Sam and I were sharing a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. As I was unwrapping it Sam said, MOMMY, MAY I FINISH IT? I said, “I’ll tell you what. I’ll take all of my bites and when I’m done I’ll give it to you and you can finish it. OK?” She agreed. But just as I was about to peel away the little muffin tin liner thingy, she said, MOMMY, MAY I HAVE IT? So I reminded her that I was going to take my bites first. She said, NO. MOMMY, MAY I UNWRAP IT FOR YOU AND HAND IT BACK TO YOU?
Since I trust her on issues like this, I handed it over. As she was unwrapping it, she “accidentally” rubbed her fingers in the chocolate and licked them off. Then she handed it back to me, and licked the wrapper.
I love that crafty thinking!
I just returned from the closing banquet. What an inspirational, life-affirming, relaxing, exhausting, stimulating, fun conference this was! I’m coming away with three specific new goals: a writing project, a homeschooling project, and an art project. I’m sure I’ll write more about them in the weeks to come. And I’m coming away with that feeling I always have at the end of an Objectivist conference: the knowledge that, on the whole, Objectivists are the best people in the world.
My last conference was in 2007 in Telluride. Sam was 10 months old and we had just begun our nomadic adventures and I was so miserable that I didn’t enjoy the conference much at all. Prior to that I attended the 1991, 1998, and 1999 conferences. I enjoyed all of those, but never had anything like the experience I had this year. This year, I had my own personal goals with which I could integrate what I was learning. This year, I had friends and acquaintances independent from Adam. (He knew so many people in ’98 and ’99 and it was hard for me to remember everyone I was introduced to–it was a bit overwhelming.) On top of that, I got to meet new friends whom I had only known electronically. The cool part was that I recognized them from their Facebook profile pictures so there was much less social anxiety of thinking, “I know this person but forgot his name,” or “I want to catch up with so-and-so but I don’t think I’d recognize her.” No, this time, I knew who I knew and I met just enough new people so that I could keep them all straight. There are at least five people I can think of that I’m sure I will become closer to after spending time at the conference together. And for all of my other friends who were here, I was able to spend quite a bit of time with them, cementing our relationships even more.
Objectivists are an amazing group. Most are warm and friendly, successful, lively, intelligent, interesting, and, yes, HAPPY! Tonight I watched Dr. Ellen Kenner, who must be in her mid fifties, dancing joyfully with her husband and others, wearing a sexy, sparkly, backless top – the kind designed for college kids. She looked great and I noted that it takes a real benevolent sense of life to dress like that. She is young at heart and bursting with joy. Watching her captured the essence of what I feel about the people at this conference. People talked passionately late into the night, not about abstract ideas (although that did occur too) but about their careers, or their kids, home improvement projects, their pets, their local Objectivist clubs, the activism work they do, etc. etc. etc. These people are passionate valuers who use Objectivism as a tool to enhance their lives. It’s not just some academic game. There is a really great culture growing in Objectivism now, and I am honored to be a part of it. I’m getting a little teary just thinking about all of the incredible people I spent time with this week.
But now, the time has come. We leave for Florida tomorrow. I can feel no sadness in leaving, even this most wonderful event, because tomorrow I see my daughter for the first time in nine days. She seems to have handled the separation well, and Adam and I were doing fine – until yesterday. I started really missing her and just wanted the conference to be over. We stayed out very late last night and had a few drinks and when we woke up, we decided to bail on the classes and spend the whole day in our hotel room. I’m sorry I missed the last two lectures, but I was just done. Stick a fork in me, I’m done. I managed to get dressed up and attend the closing banquet, and I even enjoyed it a little bit, but those big events are not really my cup of tea. So here I am, back in the hotel room, ready to curl up with an Agatha Christie book and count the hours until I can put my arms around my little girl. We’re coming home tomorrow, Sam! We miss you! We love you!
You can find the Round Up at Sandi Trixx this week.
Pre-children vacations / Vacations away from children:
“I think I’ll skip showering today.” / “I get to shower every single day.”
“I’ve had enough of office buildings – I want to spend time outdoors.” / “I’ve had enough of playgrounds – I want to spend time indoors.”
“I don’t need to brush my teeth this morning.” / “I brushed my teeth TWICE today!”
“I’m going to stay up late and party!” / ”I don’t have a pile-up of work to do after the kids go to bed so I can go to bed early!”
“I get to sleep in.” / “I intended to sleep in but I went to bed so early and slept so well that I woke up early.”
“I’m going to see a sporting event.” / “I don’t have to watch a single soccer game the whole trip!”
“I’m going to rest my mind and just lie on the beach.” / “I have the ability to focus on one thing at a time so I’m going to think deeply about the things most important to me.”
“I’m going to let my hair down.” / “I’m going to put my hair up.”
“I want to spend time with my friends.” / “I want to spend time alone.”
“I’m getting homesick.” / “I’m getting homesick.”
Tonight at OCON I’m taking a break to get in my required alone time – it’s room service and a book for me. If I’m around people too much, I seem to lose my mind – even when they are some of the greatest people in the world!
I am having the best time at this conference. I promised myself that I’d try to focus my socializing around the education folks – the teachers, homeschoolers, and other parents concerned with their kids’ education. I’ve had so many illuminating conversations already, and it’s only Monday! The optional courses that I’m taking are all things that apply directly to my life and work: Ray Girn’s course on Moral Development in Education, Keith Lockitch’s course Writing Objectively, and Lisa VanDamme’s course on Making Poetry Part of Your Life. I’ll report on them some time after I return, but I know already that I’m pleased with this strategy, rather than the one I used in the past of picking speakers that I like or some subject that I have a general curiosity about. I mean, those are fine strategies for other purposes, but now that I’m finally honing my interests and developing a Central Purpose, this is exactly what I need.
I’ve reconnected with many friends that I see rarely, and I’m hoping that I’ll come away with a few new friends as well.
Yaron Brook gave a talk on Defending Capitalism this morning that was so inspiring. I mean, it was not only inspiring in the sense of giving spiritual fuel, but it gave me a specific idea for a new project that could unite two of my greatest values. I won’t write about it until I flesh it out more, though.
On top of that, both Leonard Peikoff and David Harriman have included education as major parts of their lectures. My mind is doing its thing as an integrating machine and I feel about to burst with insights, practical ideas, and new challenges to think about.
Last night, for Independence Day, among other things, we were treated to a reading of Thomas Jefferson’s last letter by John Ridpath. If you’ve ever heard John Ridpath speak of the Founders, you can imagine how moving it was, and what an incredible way to celebrate this secular holy day.
Ta-ta for now. I’m off to enjoy some solitude.
My little problem solver strikes again.
In the airport on the way to Florida, we stopped at Five Guys for lunch. Sammy got very upset when Adam cut her hamburger in half. She began to whine: I WANT A BIG HAMBURGER LIKE MOMMY. I DON’T WANT IT CUT UP. I WANT IT WHOLE. We pretty much ignored her since she was whining, but eventually she turned to me directly and said in a sad but much nicer voice: MOMMY? I WANTED A BIG HAMBURGER.
I said, “Your daddy didn’t realize that you wanted it whole. I wish I could put it back together for you but I can’t. But here’s the best I can do.” And I kind of squished the two halves together and made a funny face like it was a silly thing to try.
Sam giggled, but then got a serious look on her face. She picked up the two halves, carefully held them squished together, and took a bite. She was so proud, and so was I!
It looks like there won’t be much time for blogging here. We’re having a great time. Peikoff is thrilling, David Harriman and Yaron Brook were excellent, and I’m just getting started in Ray Girn’s course, Moral Development in Education.
Sam is doing fine with her grandparents in Florida. We talk to her once or twice a day and she sounds so sad, but reports from grandma indicate that she is having a great time. Still, it breaks my heart when I hear her say, MOMMY? I REALLY, REALLY WANT YOU TO COME HOME.
On the other hand, I’m doing just fine without her. I miss her, but I’m not having panic attacks suddenly wondering where she is, and I don’t feel like I forgot my purse or something. Actually, I must be pretty relaxed because I did leave my notebook at Starbucks this morning.
Adam was so sweet and brought along a framed picture of Sam for my nightstand.
I hope to have more time to write about the content of the lectures but right now we’re off to the pool. First time we’re actually venturing out of the hotel!
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