The attendance at the last day of the conference was sparse, so the president of NESA cancelled the closing session. We heard an excellent keynote speaker, Tim Burns, speaking on current brain research and how that should inform our teaching. I then attended two rather mediocre workshops - Goal Setting in Writer's Workshop & Helping Students Read Non-Fiction Texts. I met Patty and Chris for lunch at a terrific outdoor cafe before going to an unexpectedly wonderful spa experience at the Intercontinental that I had booked the day before. After a good pedicure, I was offered time on the heated tile reclining chairs in the "relaxation room' before taking time in the sauna, then steam room and finally a rainforest shower - HEAVEN! I floated back to the hotel to meet up with Jeff and Cole who had finally toured the Ancient Agora. We met Letty, the Camponeschi's and Meg for dinner at Hard Rock Cafe, taking a cab back in an unexpected rainshower.
11oct22 story of Covid: I flew to Des Moines for a mini-reunion of Thomas cousins; flew back on Monday the 3rd. I did not wear a mask. Evidently I should have worn a mask, as I later came down with Covid. The infection could come from anywhere, typically airborne virus shed by someone in the communicable phase of the disease. Throughout my airport and flight experience was quite calm and uneventful, so my guess is the most likely vector for the virus was the deplaning time – people are really eager to get out, they are talking, pressing close together, straining to grab bags from the overhead compartment and coordinate with their partners, thus breathing heavily. Very few people wore a mask. I do not remember anyone coughing or sniffling or breathing heavily around me, but that deplaning process is always rather hectic. I did not press to go quickly, but I did not want to delay my windowside seatmate, so I joined the crowd. As it was, when I arrived at baggage claim, my suit
Comments
Post a Comment