As I stood in my kitchen at 6:30 this morning, peeling potatoes for the chicken stew I was putting in my crockpot, I had a revelation of sorts. You see, as I write this I am on a flight to San Diego to present at the College Reading and Learning Association annual conference. As this trip has drawn closer, I have been panicking about leaving my family for three days.  Three school days at that! I have made lists, arranged rides, covered the bases for while I am gone. But I don't travel often. Prior to returning to teaching, I never went anywhere without my kids. So neither me or my kids are very good at this. My work is done, my presentation is well written and well prepared. The agendas for the meetings I will run are organized, printed and ready for distribution. It isn't the work part of this trip that has me uneasy.  It is the home front that has me feeling nervous.  But this morning, as I put tonight's dinner into the crockpot (tomorrow's casserole in fridge already) I realized, maybe I can do this. I can travel once in awhile, with a little assistance from my reliable help (thanks Paula for taking a forgotten lunch to school not ten minutes after I left for the airport) and no one will be any worse for the wear.  In fact, we all might grow a little bit. Two nights in a hotel, ALONE ?  I don't know if I have ever had that. I might start to like this traveling !