A totally unimportant diary

Really.   As I write, it is a bit past 7 AM in my room at the Hilton in Austin Texas, on what promises to be another fairly hot day.  It is also quite warm already.  Saying the day will be fairly hot refers to how this day will begin, with our Ask the Speaker event with Nancy Pelosi.  And I am sure that more than one person will offer opinions about that event, perhaps even several live-blogging it as it occurs.

This diary, however, has an entirely different purpose.  It will be my only even semi-serious writing effort at least until I arrive at the airport on my journey home tomorrow. Herein I will explain why I am not writing - even comments - most of the time I am here, and offer a brief explanation of what has been for me the most significant moments of this trip Deep in the Heart of Texas.  Since both of these are likely of importance only to me, perhaps that will explain the title.  

Continue reading if like the proverbial feline (aka pootie) you find your curiosity being piqued.  

Most of the time I am here have not even carried my laptop with me.  I have an Ipod Touch on which I can, if I desire, read things online.  I also have my Blackberry whose incessant buzzing reminds me yet again how many unnecessary emails I receive each day, and through which if someone really needs to locate me s/he can call.
 
When I write a diary, as I am doing with this one, I commit to read all comments, and often dialog extensively with those who choose to comment.   That can be very time-consuming, especially when the members of this community choose to honor me with their words of commentary - the positive comments - or even should they choose to use their electronic communication as a means of telling  me how wrong I am, what an idiot I must be for having expressed what they have just read.  Regardless of the nature of the expression offered to me, I find myself with my face focused on screen and keyboard, and not as aware of the surrounding and people in First Life, in the world in which I am physically present.

My time at these events is too short.  There are many events in which I would like to participate, and too often these are in conflict with one another.  Of greater importance, this is often the only opportunity I have to see people of whom my knowledge is otherwise limited to our exchanges electronically.  And that is so precious, I do not want to limit the possibilities of conversation because my nose is buried in my laptop.  I am willing to be a little disconnected from what is happening on this site, or the others on which I post and participate, because the reward I get from conversing with the others here is so great.

Most of the significant moments have been meeting people I did not yet know.  I am of course delighted when people read my name tag and tell me how much my writing means to them.  It is nice to know that one's words have effect.  But persons mean more to me than do words.  I have been honored to introduce people one to another, so that they might benefit from knowing people whom I have been able to appreciate from reading their words and perhaps knowing them from previous get-togethers.  I have also found my life enriched by meeting new people, some of whom may be running for public office and perhaps I can be off assistance - offering to aid on education policy, for example.  And it has been especially rewarding for me in the conversations where I have gotten to know and appreciate better as persons those whose writing I may have known, or perhaps with whom at previous conventions I had exchange only the basic pleasantries.  

My most significant moments have involved three teenagers, the three young people who were on my panel of politically active young people.  I have very much enjoyed introducing them to some of the important members of this community, and without embarrassing anyone I want to thank those -  including front-pagers, members of Congress, candidates, and others - who were willing to take them to talk with them, and to listen to them.

Most of all, my trip here was justified by the 75 minutes yesterday of that panel.  We were fortunate to be one of the very few events that C-Span chose to cover, which will enable you if you are interested to view the panel, to see how remarkable an event that was, because of these three young people.  Through the graciousness of the people running Netroots Nation, we had the opportunity to provide a forum in which people could here what three politically active young people had to say, and perhaps to grasp how much our young people can do, if only we will take the time to listen to them.

I am a teacher.  I view my role as that of empowering those who pass through my care.  I challenge them to go further, think more deeply, take intellectual risks.  Two of three young people were my students last year.  And it was especially rewarding for me to see how much they were able to give to others during those 75 minutes, and during the exchanges they had with others afterwards, or even in the remarks people who had been there made to me after the session's conclusion.  By the way, that included the C-span staff who taped the event.

Netroots Nation is different this year.  Perhaps later I will reflect on my perceptions of that difference.  Perhaps others will sufficiently explain it so my doing so would be redundant and I will not impose unnecessary repetition upon you. If I do so, it will be only after the event has concluded, and I can process the experience while not still in the midst of it.

For now?  I have not vanished from the blogosphere, I am not made nor am I sulking.  I am not writing because the time with others here is so precious.

I am willing to post this explanation now because I suspect I will not be totally engrossed in the session with the Speaker.  I will listen respectfully, and observe the questions and concerns of others.  Thus I will be able to keep an eye on this should anyone be so inclined as to wish to append comments to it.  And if anyone has been curious as to why I have not been posting, diaries or comments, perhaps that inquisitiveness is now satisfied.

Other than that?  This is till a totally unimportant diary.

Have a nice day.

Peace.