Thoughts on LauraPalooza … And Cool Items Still Available!

As I write this, a month has passed since we wrapped up our first ever LauraPalooza.

I’m trying to process how I feel about the event. It was a lot of work, and a lot of fun. I think it successfully bridged the academic and popular worlds–and that was a fine line to walk. We have many ideas for the next event, which will be held in July, 2012, but for now, I want to talk about what I got out of this first-of-its-kind gathering.

First, fellowship. I think sometimes we all internalize our interests. For me, Laura has been a private kind of interest, or the interest that others have teased me about. My husband, thankfully, gets it, and he has, on more than one occasion, driven out of our way on a long trip just so I can see something related to Laura. (How many of you have spouses that “get it”?) But how amazing it was, last month, to be able to cite chapter and verse on Laura and know that I didn’t have to explain myself further? At LP, I was among friends who all got it–and who could keep up!

Second, inspiration. What marvelous food for thought our speakers provided this year! The academic discourse thrived, and the chief complaint received was that we needed more time for people to connect with those who spoke, to discuss, disect, and interact with their contributions to this growing body of knowledge. To me, that says we had amazing folks who inspired that thought. I know I’m ready to tackle my next project now.

Third, play. Play is often absent from academic conferences, but at this one, because we wanted to bring everyone together, play had to be an essential element. So we had a spelling bee; we ate popcorn and watched great documentaries; we offered handwork and crafts; we gave people an opportunity to splash in Plum Creek. (And that’s a sight I’ll never forget–a bus full of Laura fans shrieking and kicking off their sandals and shoes to wade in!)

Finally, legacies. We picked that theme for LauraPalooza 2010 because we saw the impact of Laura everywhere. I leave the conference thinking that we haven’t yet fully explored these legacies. And we need to reconsider the impact not only of the books, but the tv series and all its permutations. It’s time.

One more thing I take away with me? LauraPalooza merchandise. If you want a piece of LauraPalooza to take home with you, here’s what’s left:

Brown-on-pink LIWLRA t-shirts; mediums, XLs, XXLs, and XXLs, $22 (includes shipping);

Wheat-on-Hunter Green “Laura’s Farmer boy” t-shirts; all sizes, $22 (includes shipping);

Green-on-wheat Laura Ingalls Wilder tote bags, $10 (includes shipping);

Wheat-on-green LIWLRA lanyards, $5 (includes shipping);

LP 2010 FlourSack Towel Embroidery kit (pre-marked towel, needle, red floss): $5 (includes shipping).

And don’t forget: LIWLRA members get 10 percent off.

Thanks for being such amazing people. I look forward to hosting LauraPalooza 2012, July 12-14, 2012.