Years ago when John and I attended the annual Smart Marriages Conferences, I had a favorite speaker. Scott Haltzman wrote Secrets of Happily Married Men, and Secrets of Happily Married Women. I wanted in on those secrets and always signed up for his workshops. Sitting in the front row, as is my wont, working on the current quilt, he came to recognize me. We would chat afterwards, and I bought autographed copies of his books. One year he was working on another title, Secrets of Happy Families, and invited the audience to fill out a survey, which I did. So I suppose the minutia of the Odhners is woven into that book. Unrecognizable, in the morass of data, but still fun to contemplate. 

Last fall when I was pondering about a plenary speaker for the conference I thought of Scott. What the heck. I found his Facebook page and asked if he would consider coming, and what he charged. It was a month or two before he got back to me, but he did remember me fondly. The sticker price was more than my entire conference budget, though he invited me to make a counter offer, since he admittedly "likes speaking."

In the time between when I inquired and when he got back to me I asked another couple, who agreed to speak. They were beyond wonderful. Many feedback forms singled them out for their honesty, courage, integrity and vulnerability. We were blessed to hear them. 

But last week I got back to Scott. I suggested a barter. 

"You said you like speaking. If your wife likes quilts, we can make a deal." I sent a slew of photos of stars, and flying geese and one block wonders to see what caught his eye. 

"The conference next year will be on President's Day weekend. What do you think?" I asked. 

"You are too cute," he wrote. "Pencil me in."