I made it to Columbia, Missouri, safe and sound and was greeted by Al, a charming and enthusiastic grad student of theatre, who brought me to the hotel, showed me around campus, took me to a great place for lunch, and generally made me feel very welcome.  I even met his adorable boxer pup Argos.

I was reunited with my dear friend Jackson Bryer, whom I’ve known from the Inge Festival since I started going.  He’s one of those people who you know instantly will be a constant friend, and that’s how he’s been since 1991.  He also does not age.  To quote a line from “Fifth of July” by Lanford Wilson, the man whose life and work we’re honoring this week, “Somewhere there’s a picture of him going to hell.”

The conference starts today with more reunions and a performance tonight of “The Rimers of Eldritch.”  I don’t know how to explain the play, having only read it several times in order to grasp it.  Maybe after tonight I’ll be able to say something about it.

Anyway, here I am.  It was drizzling all day, but the forecast calls for better weather the rest of the week.