Peg Kehret Blog

I went to Hershey, Pennsylvania, this week to receive the Keystone State Reading Association’s Young Adult Book Award for The Ghost’s Grave. It is always rewarding to spend time with a group of reading teachers and librarians because they are my partners in the cause of literacy. I write the books; they put them in the hands of kids who read them. It was a lovely award luncheon and I now have friends in Pennsylvania.

My son-in-law and grandson, Kevin and Eric, went with me. While I was at the KSRA conference, they spent the day in Gettysburg. They are both students of military history, and were thrilled to stand at the spot where Lincoln gave his Gettysburg address.

The next day the three of us visited Hershey Chocolate World (yum!) and took a tour to learn the history of Mr. Hershey. He was a remarkable man who had persistence, business acumen, and compassion. We also visited the Civil War Museum in Harrisburg.

The only travel glitch was in Cincinnati. When we changed planes to fly to Harrisburg, PA, my bag was left uncovered in the rain. It sat there long enough for the rain to soak completely through the bag itself and into the contents. My clothes were all wet, including what I planned to wear at the award luncheon. My nightgown was so soaked I couldn’t wear it. Posters that I had taken to give away were wet, but I spread them around my room and they dried overnight. Luckily, the “Visit With Peg Kehret” DVDs that I took as gifts were in plastic covers.

I arrived home to piles of mail, a packed Inbox of e-mail, phone messages, and excited animals. Lucy has been a “Velcro dog” since my return, Molly claims my lap at every opportunity, Edgar (my foster cat) yowls for attention, and even Mr. Stray looked in the window to welcome me home.

This was my last out-of-state trip for awhile. I like to meet new people and to see and learn about new places. Awards that kids vote on are dear to my heart and I feel honored to hang the beautiful KSRA plaque on my wall. Still, I agree with Dorothy: there’s no place like home.

The nights here in Washington State are getting colder, which means it’s time for one of my favorite treats.  My laundry room adjoins my bedroom so when I get ready for bed, I put my pajamas in the dryer and turn it on. While I brush my teeth, wash my face, and get undressed, my p.j.s tumble in the hot air. By the time I put them on, they are toasty warm - perfect for a cold night. It is a small pleasure but I savor it, just as I savor my first cup of coffee each morning. 

I justify the few minutes of electricity use by remembering that I hung those pajamas, and all of my other laundry, outside to dry all summer.

There are numerous small pleasures in my life: an unexpected phone call from a grandchild, doggie kisses, seeing deer in my woods, successfully completing the morning crossword puzzle, and many more.

Some, such as emails from enthusiastic fans, are gifts that arrive unsought. Others I create, with only a little effort. Today’s small pleasures include: holding Edgar, my foster cat, and listening to him purr, baking a birthday cake for my friend, Myra, who is coming to dinner tonight, and walking on my nature trail to gather colorful leaves and pine cones for a centerpiece.

To paraphrase Charlie Brown: Happiness is warm jammies.

For three days last week I was at the Plum Creek Children’s Literacy Festival in Seward, Nebraska. The festival is held each year on the campus of Concordia University, and this year more than 7,000 people attended.

 I gave three talks to children on Thursday, three talks to children on Friday, and three talks to teachers and media specialists on Saturday. Whew!  I also attended a dinner/auction for the festival’s sponsors, where I talked briefly about myself.  I enjoyed hearing Richard Peck speak at the Sat. luncheon.   The other festival presenters were Andrew Clements, Robin Brickman, Ted and Betsy Lewin and Laura Numeroff.  It’s always fun to get to know my fellow authors. 

I don’t know how many books I signed, but there were stacks and stacks of them when I arrived and none left at the end of the last session. The folks at Concordia were warm and welcoming. On Wed. night we were introducing ourselves and shaking hands. By Sat. we were good friends, hugging goodby.

I stayed in a guest house on campus which was well stocked with goodies, including coffee and chocolates, which I consider essential food groups. 

 There were many highlights. I met a woman who, as a high school student, had acted in a play that I wrote.  I met a mother and daughter who had been e-mailing me for a long time and who drove from Iowa to hear me talk. I heard wonderful reports from librarians who are using my books to encourage reluctant readers.

I loved making new friends, and talking with teachers and librarians, but the best part of the conference was the children who were excited about books. They are the ones I write for and it was extremely satisfying to hear their questions about my work and to bask in their enthusiasm.