Dear #NCTE15, Thank you--- for belly laughs and seeping tears for strategies, insights, and new plans for authors who sign books! for considering me "your people" and "your tribe" for celebrating the new and the risk and the innovative for justice and advocacy for fun! I return home--- fulfilled renewed relaxed excited inspired motivated overjoyed. I was a #firsttimer. I attended on the kindness of the North Texas council and my administrators, not really knowing what I would find but thrilled by the opportunity. I had no idea what sort of incredible chaos I was in for! Amazingly intelligent people shared their genius. Taylor Mali made me laugh until I cried! Lois Lowry moved me. Deeply. Shanna Peeples smiled and hugged me. And Laurie Halse Anderson signed and giggled and was utterly kind! Jeff Anderson was everywhere I was, chatting me up as I laughed uncontrollably. I finally heard Carol Jago. Wow. Penny Kittle made me want to be her all over