As I check over my demo and technology presentations one more (and surely not the last) time, the old cliché of butterflies filling my stomach rings true.  They are fluttering me back to the other two teaching demonstrations I presented, one for the Upper Peninsula Writing Project and one for the LMWP.  Even though they took place five and two years ago, respectively, the same anxieties are there- will I remember all of the papers I need to bring?  Will my flashdrive and computer work with the University’s technology?  Will I be able to find my wireless mouse?  Will I trip over my words?  Will I be able to fill the time allotted?  Worse, will I go over the time allotted?  Is everything I’m going to say even worth hearing?

But this time, there are other butterflies.  These are the same butterflies are those night-before-Chrstimas I experienced as a child.  I know tomorrow is a gift.  I know tomorrow, and the three weeks after, I will receive the gifts of friendship, colleagueship (a new word, perhaps?), and discovery. I will learn from some of the most talented, dedicated teachers from West Michigan.  And I know that all around the country, other teachers are receiving the same gifts.  These butterflies are more vibrant than the others, which I usually try to eliminate.   So I’ll allow these butterflies to keep me awake tonight and accompany me on the journey that is the Writing Project Invitational Summer Institute.