On conference week(end).

It was a strange week. And an adventurous one.

I left my Valencia home Wednesday morning to travel north on I-5—first to Oakland, then to Palo Alto, with trips to San Francisco spread throughout. There were moments (including whole days) that were not quite what I expected them to be, or hoped they could be, but then there were other, subsequent moments (and days), that were more beautiful and inspiring than anything I could have constructed.

In Oakland I watched the movie Hook and played four square in parking lots. In Palo Alto Meg's little brother fed me pizza, and pie, and macaroons, and her mom hugged me and said, "I am happy to see you, whatever the reason." The next day we made guacamole.

I also went to the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival with Ash and Emma, which festival was freezing, but filled with free, beautiful music—including my love Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch—and throngs of equally beautiful concert goers. That evening was pizza, Abby, The Social Network, running into a friend I've had since I was 17, and hanging out at his apartment afterward to say hi to his new roommate, Ruel, whom I also know (though from a different time period).

Sunday morning was conference, brunch with nearly a hundred Stanford kids, and hugs adieu before heading back home. I am mighty glad to be here.