On meeting authors

Strange yet wonderful day yesterday. I had heard there was a chance to take a class with Alma Flor Ada - an author whose books I've used many times in my classes. I came in early, got a ticket, and wandered out to find a coffee. Next to the Horace Mann building, I see two older Hispanic women, sipping coffee and eating breakfast sandwiches. I happen to ask, in Spanish "Esta cerrada?" while pointing at the door. We start a conversation; they mention that they are trying to get in but the door is locked. "Is there an entrance on the other side?" I gesture with my hand showing that completely on the other side of the building there is an entrance that surely is open: you have to get past the guard in a kiosk (who is usually reading a newspaper, specifically the sports section) to get in.
"I'm off to find coffee," I say and that's that.
I get my coffee, come back and head up to the class. The two Spanish women turn out to be Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Compoy, and their class is a delight - lots of easy concrete ways to get kids and families to start writing, to find their voice, to say something important.
Long story short, after the afternoon class, I am able to stand and have a long conversation with Isabel. She is charming, smart, able, and witty, all packaged in a tiny, feisty, Spanish women with a laugh that reminds me of sleigh bells.
Alma Flor Ada is white haired, somewhat grave, and certainly shyer, much less comfortable than Isabel standing in front of a crowd. She has written 250 children's books which is mind blowing, but gives me both pause and encouragement. I have sent out nearly a dozen of my best books in the last year, as yet no luck. But the encouraging thing to me is that I begin to see where I can get much better, where I can improve my characters, hone my words, say less to say more, define by showing, not telling; in short, get better.
An encouraging day... I give them my card, get to chat. I can see myself doing this in the twilight of my years, going around the country, talking with others, teaching teachers, and especially teaching writing...