Pictures From TFOB 2025

Before the authors, these was Science City.  From the walk-through heart to the herpetology (alive and not) explainers, there was much to learn for the Prince gardeners

and for me.  There was so much that had never been contemplated when I was learning science.  The passionate MIT PhD student clearly explained how her nano-wire super quantum connection thingy will change the world and, in the moment, I totally understood.  

*****

 

This was the first session of the first day, an un-ticketed Q&A with Robert Crais about Joe Pike and Elvis Cole and growing tomatoes from seed.  The crowd was sparse.  The weather was cold and damp.  People were wearing puffy vests and jackets with lined hoods.

Crais is at the tip of the arrow.  

*****

Billy Collins has aged (haven't we all) since his last appearance at the Festival.  He was as gentle and thoughtful and totally focused in this moment with his host as he was with each question, with each poem he read aloud.    

I went to the speakers' sales tent, spent $27 on his hardback,and felt no guilt at all.

*****

Sitting in the front row, off to one side, I was up close to Maureen Dowd as she waited with her host in front of a mural .... a disturbingly real mural in this photo where the emphasis was supposed to be on her boots and the beading that turned into fringe at the hem.  

My off-to-the-side seat came with a perfect view... of her face and her lace.

*****

I thought about sticking around for 2 hours to wait in line for the possibility of seeing Gretchen Whitmer, but, as Big Cuter pointed out, there will be plenty of opportunities to see Gretchen Whitmer over the next few years. 

On my way out, I joined the people casting shadows and sat on the bleachers

watching these girls and more girls like them twirl and swing and dangle and twist themselves through all twelve dimensions entwined in the colorful ribbons that were obviously stronger than they appeared.

If I could figure out how to use the map app to pin my parking space I wouldn't have to take pictures like this, for the address

and this for the pathway 

to the parking lot, in which, on both days, I found the one and only available space.  

Obviously, the universe wanted me to be there.  I totally agreed.

Anyway, I never argue with G'ma's parking karma.