As a scholar, a lot of my research questions lead me to collecting and studying narratives. There is a large community of narrative researchers and a lot of kinds of narrative research. A while ago a group of scholars started a conference called Narrative Matters. They hold the conference every other year in various locations. Last time it was in Quebec, Canada. This time is was in Paris. I wrote a proposal to be in this conference at the urging of my BYU supervisor. About 600 people applied this year for no where near that many spots. Strangely enough, they picked my proposal and I got to go to France for a week. I spent time at the conference, because that is what academic people do, but I also got to go and see a lot of fun stuff. I was in Paris about two years ago in August and I am going back again this August. Brian and I (and now Hannah) really love France.
The joke is that January is the longest month of the year. I thought it went quickly. Classes started and winter cold set in. We went to the eye doctor and Hannah waited for the doctor so long, she grew a beard. Ultimately she decided on glasses that would make her look like Supergirl. I think she really pulled it off. All month I was on pins and needles about the government shutdown trying to decide if it was safe to fly to a conference. Luckily for me, the poor TSA workers and federal folks were able to get back to work. However, the planes I took (4 in all) were mostly empty and I got a row to myself. There was also a polar vortex that didn't help air travel looks appealing. I got there late at night and the room they had left was a large hotel suite. I took it. My colleague Michael Dunn and I divided our presentation up. We both did well. I also found a few good folks from Kansas. Then, I left Indy. When I wasn't worki...

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