wasps, fish and free wine

Highlights from the Missouri Writers Guild Conference:

Date: Saturday, April 21
Time: One hour into four-hour road trip
Location: Hurtling down I-70 at 80 mph
Fun event #1: A wasp that apparently flew into van while we were loading the suitcases drops out of its hiding spot and lands on window one foot from No. 1 son's face. No. 1 son makes those primal noises that humans make when trapped near a stinging insect. Husband commands him to not panic (in a slightly panicky voice) and we debate whether to pull over now or wait until the next exit ramp about a mile down the way. Wasp makes futile escape attempt by flying repeatedly against Husband's closed window. Husband opens window. The sudden burst of wind blows wasp onto his chest. Husband swats at it while managing to keep minivan in the proper lane (still hurtling at 80 mph). Wasp falls somewhere we can't see. Husband prays it didn't land near the family jewels. We pull into the decrepit parking lot of an abandoned gas station and Husband jumps out. Still-alive wasp now minus at least one appendage tries to hobble out open door. Husband stomps on it without mercy. OK, not really fun per se, but definitely a highlight.


A life-size depiction of the wasp that was trapped in our minivan. Seriously.

Date: Saturday
Time: 12:45 or so
Location: MWG luncheon, St. Charles Convention Center
Fun event #2: MWG president Christine Taylor-Butler announces the recipient for this year's scholarship is a St. Louis Title 1 school whose students scored 100 percent on their state assessments. JWKC member Lisa Wade McCormick is so impressed, she donates an additional $20 and issues a challenge to everyone in the room to follow suit. Within ten minutes the room almost triples the original scholarship amount, with more pledges coming in later.

Date: Still Saturday
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Happy Hour, St. Charles Embassy Suites bar
Fun event #3: Lisa, Jeana Tetzlaff and I celebrate that our pitches led to requests by tossing back free drinks courtesy of Embassy Suites. Yay! Husband and sons call to give me highlights of their day. They visited my sister in Illinois and spent the day at the lake. No. 1 son drove a John Deere runabout and No. 2 son caught four fish.