For the third time in four years, I am attending the Catholic Writers Guild Conference. This is the first time I’ve attended the Chicago Edition. It’s the first time I’ve flown alone in at least 18 years or more, the first time since 1988 that I’ve been through O’Hare Airport, and the first time in my life I’ve had a hotel room to myself.

This place is fancy. There’s a TV embedded in the bathroom mirror, even. That’s too bizarre for me!

There’s no selfie contest this year (which is probably a good thing because I am terrible at selfies and nobody wants to see that anyway).

Yesterday I met quite a few people whose work I know from CatholicMom.com and other places–and ran into three times as many more whom I’ve met before and was happy to see again.

I’ll be working a little and networking a lot. In between, this is like a retreat. There’s Mass every day. There’s opportunity for Confession and Eucharistic Adoration. There are speakers galore and access to all the Catholic literature (fiction and nonfiction alike) your heart could desire. Some authors will give away signed books, and I brought one book along to be signed by the author, who’s giving a presentation this year that I don’t want to miss.

I’m grateful that my family encourages me to attend this event, year after year. I hope it makes me better at the work I do. I hope it makes me a better person, too! Being away from home is hard for me, but it’s always worthwhile to come here.

I only just got here yesterday, but I already know that, as I observed last year, on Friday I’ll be able to say

I met so many people whose work I admire, and so many others whose work I’m just beginning to know. It was a wonderful event!

I’m linking up with Reconciled to You and Theology is a Verb for #WorthRevisit Wednesday, a place where you can come and bring a past & treasured post to share, and link up with fellow bloggers!