This is just to say that I'm having a wonderful time. I've heard that Clarion West is a life-changing experience. Well, it doesn't start until a bit later this afternoon and already this weekend has been life-changing in so many ways.

Also, I'm even more madly in love with Connie Willis than I ever thought possible. She is incredible. So is Gardner Dozois--he's funny, witty, brilliant, and incredibly kind. The sweet drips off of Peter S. Beagle. He told me the sweetest story about a girl he used to be in love with named Maggie, and I'll never forget it. William Gibson has a fascinating mind and process. And it's hard to talk to him because he'll talk about something for a bit, and then he looks at you, and you know you should say something, but you don't really know what to say. I've met some other writers I adore and they've been wonderful. So incredibly kind and lovely. Other people in the SFF Seattle community are dear and lovely... so intelligent and caring. (But they're private citizens, and I don't intend to talk about them publicly.)

But my Clarion West classmates are the best of all. Brilliant, creative, generous, loving, kind, thoughtful, amazing writers... A beautiful person, each in their own way.

How did I get so lucky to be here with all these wonderful people?

I've learned a lot about writing this weekend, I've learned a lot about process, I've learned a lot about the business side... I've learned so much, and the six weeks hasn't even started.

And the other thing is, no matter how strange and new-agey it sounds, I was supposed to end up here. I don't even know how to explain.