My RWA Experience - 2005 Reno

Since the time for the RWA National Conference is near, I thought I'd share my hectic experience while at the conference in Reno. Go ahead. Laugh all you want. I can laugh too, now!

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When I stepped into the tub/shower, my feet slipped from under me. It’s amazing what goes through your mind when airborne, especially when you’re over the hill. Oh, Lord, I’m a goner. Will the EMT’s have to lift me naked from the tub? What if I break something?


As my right hip hit the porcelain, the back of my head bounced off the tile wall. My conference buddies pounded on the bathroom door. “Are you all right?”

“I think so. Give me a minute.” I pushed up, didn’t feel any severe pain. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Other than considerable bruising, I was, but should’ve known then this trip was hexed. Evidently spending the night in Austin before our flight had been a bad idea.



Weary travelers. We'd registered and visited the "Goodie Room."

 The following morning, we boarded our Reno bound plane to attend the National RWA conference. Once there, we piled into the back seat of a cab, where we were thrown from one side to the other on the tight curves, but within minutes were at the hotel, registering, getting freebie bags, and eyeballing the slot machines.

The workshops were wonderful. If you’ve been to an RWA conference, you know you get oodles of free books. The year before, I came home with over a hundred.

In our free time we played the slots. Did you know that while gambling, drinks are free? I didn’t, but learn fast. I won two-hundred dollars, lost it all, and ended up twenty dollars in the hole. Not bad for a four day stay.

The morning we left, books packed in every pocket, carry on bag, suitcase – anywhere we could stash them, we left the room. Way overloaded – I had a large wheeled wardrobe, my foldable cart on wheels, a big book bag, and my purse – I decided to put my driver’s license in my pocket so I wouldn’t have trouble locating it while in line at the airport.

After checkout, I collected our key cards and dropped them in the key box on our way out. Huffing and puffing with overloaded bags, we entered the airport to join the long line at check-in. When I reached in my pocket for my driver’s license, it wasn’t there. Sheer panic! I searched the floor all the way to the entrance. Could it have fallen out in the cab? Then it hit me. I’d dropped it in the room key box at the hotel.

How would I get on the plane? Would I miss the flight? When I got to the counter, I explained my situation.

The clerk asked. “Do you have another picture ID and a credit card in your name?”

Credit card, easy, but a picture ID…? Eureka! I whipped out my Sam’s card.

I was handed a boarding pass. “Be prepared to go through extra security.”

“No problem. As long as I get on that plane, I’m happy.” Of course, I didn’t have a clue what extra security meant.

I do now. Ever heard the expression, “Spread ‘um?”


In conclusion, if you're going to New York for the conference, be careful when stepping into the bathtub and don't put your drivers license with the room keys.

Have a great conference. I wish I could be there.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda