So I am wiped out. Just wrecked. And I am sitting on a bench waiting for the Disney Magic Express Tour Bus to take me back to Orlando Airport so I can catch a flight back to Los Angeles. I have a cup of caffeine in my hand but it’s not doing the trick and I am thinking that if I just close my eyes for the 40 minute ride and re-caffeinate once I get to Orlando airport, then I’ll have a shot at my travel day not being entirely wasted due to the fact that I am so wasted from spending so much energy listening and thinking and chatting and yapping at NCTE.

And what’s the last thing you want when you are having that kind of blood-shot eyes type of morning.

Yep, that’s right… someone to walk up and start a conversation.

That’s when Mark Childs approached me. Mark is a guy I met online through the ECN and we proceeded to have one of the most interesting, thoughtful, dynamic chats – one of my top three – at the conference.

The guy is just so smart, so nice, of such good spirit – and really, really funny – that, well… it just shows the value of attending NCTE.

So many good people. So many great thinkers. So wall-to-wall with really fascinating stuff.

I ended up doubling down on the caffeine and writing the whole plane ride back, Mark having triggered so much “stuff” in me.

NCTE is in the books. Next year in Chicago. 100 year anniversary. Gonna be amazing.

When you are a teacher, sometimes you get worn out.

I mean WORN OUT. It’s inevitable. That’s why I endorse caffeine. After all, when you teach teens, they have hormones, sugar and youth on their side. Caffeine is the great equalizer. It allows me to hit another gear when I ordinarily would not have another gear in me but oh-so-desperately need it.

You can take away my paper supply, you can take away my access to resources, you can take away the electricity, pencils and even my chair — I’ll be just fine. But take away my caffeine and the game is over.