Imaginales2

[ellenkushner]

Color me crazy, but in the last 24 hours I have actually entertained the thought of getting on a plane next week and going to Imaginales next week for 3 days, because - hey! fares are low - and what kind of person am I if I can't do that?

While plenty of online people have been most encouraging, the ones who actually live & work with me have gently pointed out that hitting 21/2 writing deadlines & going to Wiscon & BEA & having my parents & 2 other friends visit might just be enough in the next 3 weeks, without the addition of a trip to France (via Frankfurt, renting a car & driving 4 hours to Vosges via Main to pick up my fabulous new step-nephew, Nils).

There are people I know who could still manage it - and of course I compare myself unfavorably to them. But at dinner last night with our delightful new friends Helen & Tim in their lovely Brooklyn Heights apartment, Helen pointed out that when she travels, she can still "find the sprocket" - those little holes in the sides of movie film, the tracks to catch yourself back into - if she has to - and so can Delia, we figured out; while Tim & I are of the other camp: travel, for us, is total release, delightful chaos....and the crash, when we land back home, tends to be severe. But I'm enchanted with that image (incomprehensible to those born after the dawn of the digital age?) - must remember now to remind myself from time to time to stop wriggling about, and "find the sprocket."

I just got a nice encouraging note from Imaginales about a possible future visit, so I guess I'll stay here. However, collecting Data for Decision-Making has given me the opportunity to be back in touch with all the French sf/f writers we met when we were in Paris/Nantes in Oct/Nov when A la Pointe de L'Epee first came out.

I often find Facebook French to be so idiomatic as to be incomprehensible - but this post, from Anne Verdier (who writes utterly engaging YA fantasy under her maiden name, Anne Fakhouri), going to the con for just one day, I guess, made me smile:
Anne Verdier cherche baby-sitter aux nerfs d'acier pour le 15 mai
She has 2 kids. But one friend responded:
je t'emmene au zoo et manger du gateau au chocolat?
Wow. I want a French babysitter , now.

I also got the chance to admire fellow-nominee (for his novel Acacia)David Anthony Durham's blog post about it. So beautifully laid out! So gracious, with the links! Another colleague to compare myself to unfavorably. Heigh-ho! As Maimonides said, we each have our own place in the world. I'm glad for his, and especially for his pointing out that we're all on a ballot with Terry Pratchett! Somehow, I did not quite take that in the first time. I guess we're all winners.

Comments

[themaskmaker.livejournal.com]

I love it! "Find the sprocket."

May I use it?

"Find the Sprocket"

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! That's why I put it up - I knew I wasn't the only one . . . .

[regicidaldwarf.livejournal.com]

I...feel bad about it, but "find the sprocket" is actually completely incomprehensible to me.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I never need much of an excuse to go to France. Admittedly, the UK is a lot closer...
I'm another one who relaxes into travel (once I'm sure the travel provider is going to do their bit). It isn't fun if I have to worry about it or do being super-organised. This may explain why I'm much better travelling with just the marquis, rather than in groups, as the latter seem to want me to do the organise thing.

[shannachie.livejournal.com]

If you ever do travel - via Frankfurt - do contact me. I live there. I'd love to meet you.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That would be lovely.