And so tonight I had the opportunity to see one of my all-time favorite writers in person, talking about a movie that he co-wrote a script for.

I did not read Where the Wild Things Are as a kid. I was stuck on Fox in Socks, honestly. I'm sure I'll get around to reading it now, though, it being only 20 pages. Dave Eggers tells me that it's probably one of the best children's books ever written. It is definitely the best-illustrated children's book. Seriously. He told me that as we stood around in the Hot Pot Doughnuts shop in downtown Seattle this evening after a packed house watched the movie. I mentioned away we go. He told me about his kids. It wasn't the longest conversation that I've ever had, but I haven't talked to many of my literary heroes before, so I'll take what I can get.

I got this vibe of Eggers that I thought about on the ride home tonight. He didn't say much about himself. I awkwardly tried to heap praise on him. But he talked about the movie and his kids and the 826 program. He's been dealing with fanboys like me for a decade, really. Me: awestruck. Him: "my daughter loves the book." Yeah. And there was a quiet calm that I would like to think wasn't boredom brought on by my nagging presence. And I thought, as I made the drive to my hotel, how I'd like to age like that. Level-headed with at least the visage of wisdom, a knowledge of what is most important (which is never the self).

Today, the second of my trip, has been a great one. Breakfast with a former student. Lunch with a former student. And meeting one of the most important figures in contemporary American literature. For me, it's been a day for the history books. And a day that has given me something more to think about.