Last month, I attended the Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference. In the days before, I was so nervous. “What if the other kids don’t like me?” I wondered.

Those fears didn’t matter, in the end. A different version of myself came back down from that mountain.

Surrounding myself with others who believe that reading and writing are the most beautiful stars in life’s constellation was indescribably affirming.

Singing Alanis Morrissette at karaoke night was almost as affirming.

What is the opposite of gatekeeping? Knowledge sharing? Whatever it is, it’s so refreshing; so needed. I understand the desire for mystique, but I think generosity builds legends in just the same way. 

I bought my husband a Bread Loaf t-shirt. He wore it out to dinner the day after I got back. A woman leaving the restaurant looked at him and said “Bread Loaf! Wow!” She met my gaze as if to say “what an impressive fellow you have caught in your web.” Indeed.

The real lesson from this experience is that I should have been reading so much more Benjamin this whole time.