SLA: the Fourth

The 4th of July weekend was busy busy. My mom got married Sunday, which means Saturday had C. and I once again stepping on a plane. This time to fly to Connecticut. We were supposed to arrive late Friday night, but our flight was delayed to the point we had missed our connection, so re-booked to Saturday it was. I am continually annoyed that there are no direct flight between Pittsburgh and Connecticut/Rhode Island/Massachusetts.

The wedding was lovely and simple, and I wish my mom and new stepfather much happiness!

(This entry here continues the detailed summary of my time in Phoenix for SLA. Fourth entry in a series.)

Sunday morning started with a tip-top session, "Geologist turned Crime Writer", Susan Cummins Miller. She detailed her journey, starting in undergraduate and graduate schools, and how her role as a Geologist took an unplanned turn, then how her career took another unplanned turn when left the geology field to become a writer. When the oldest of her two sons showed "differences" from neurotypicalness - autism spectrum before being diagnosed on the autism spectrum was a thing - she initially turned to writing as a way to spend more time at home helping to oversee his education and development. She's since written non-fiction, a successfully mystery/crime series, and even poetry. She's an esteemed voice in her respective fields (geology and writing), and her sons have grown up. (The oldest, she mentioned, is a technical writer, following in the wordsmith's footsteps.)

Sunday also saw an amazing Opening Keynote, Lulu Miller, the co-host of NPR's Invisibilia. She spoke of several instances libraries, specifically special libraries, and information helped her in stories. She had me crying one moment, and laughing the next, telling her stories of life, love, laughter, and libraries. She also inadvertently helped to give us our unofficial theme for the conference. Whereas our hashtag on Twitter is #SLAers, she read it as "SLAyers", a theme we as information professional jumped on for the duration of the conference. (The completely coincidental t-shirts from the vendor hall certainly helped.)

Other highpoints of Sunday included a panel on the nature of the Discovery platform, catching up with friends, and hitting the receptions in the evening as I searched for a slice of dessert, any dessert, after the tacos in the Exihibt Hall during the Vendor's Opening Reception. (I finally found it in the form of bite-size mousse cups.)

Next entry details Monday, with more panels, more excessive desert heat wave, and more "SLAying".