But the conference was amazing. Inspirational, really. And a whole lot of fun.
Here's a view of Chautauqua Lake at sunrise. Pretty, no?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdf74Czgyh865RvZ2zsTPhr-p5AXbiMfzoDHL2Ofq8DEZCed2WXDRcQckawkEStk8sXLvE05iWApbhkZ_P6iHiZrt97erBJk_DmB3LmIw-Km6oBg5k18K6UAkbiHVMIwgEyu6SQ/s400/chautauqua1.jpg)
Ah, but the highlight of my week was getting the chance to meet Jerry Spinelli, children's writer extraordinaire and winner of the Newbery Award. Back when I was in the fifth grade, my teacher Mrs. Kent read Maniac Magee to my entire class and I savored every minute of it. I loved every word.
Even so, I was somewhat surprised when tears sprang into my eyes as Mr. Spinelli autographed my copy of Maniac Magee. I mean, it's just a book, right? And he's just a regular guy, right? But there was something magical in the moment when Jerry took the book---his book really---from my hands and scribbled his signature onto the title page. You see, he wasn't only signing the book for me---he was signing it for a certain fifth-grade girl who could hardly wait for reading time to start in her class.
I was so happy.
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(Jerry with his wife Eileen, who is also a children's writer.)