It was my second year of attendance at the NEDA annual conference. This year I took Guzzy with me to San Diego as well as my husband, Dan–we extended our trip to combine the conference with a couple days of sight-seeing.
San Diego is jaw-dropping gorgeous. The hotel for the conference was on the bay and the weather was perfect for 4 of our 5 days there. On the 5th day, San Diego received approximately 1/5 of its annual rainfall. Goodbye whale watching tour, hello museums at Balboa park!
The conference got off to a great start with breakfast the first morning. Sitting right behind us was Jenni Schaefer — a well-known author and acclaimed speaker in the Eating Disorder world. In recovery herself, Jenni has written what is *IMO) the best book available from the perspective of someone who has been there: Life Without ED. Jenni had donated a signed copy of the book to our walk and she speaks at some of the bigger NEDA Walk venues around the country. She is famous in the ED world – -and she was sitting 5 feet away!
So–I got up and introduced myself to her. I had no sooner gotten out the words ‘coordinator of the Madison Walk’ when she announced — “Oh, I would Love to speak at the Madison Walk!” Obviously I was thrilled–we chatted a bit more; and after that I was too nervous to talk to her during the rest of the conference for fear she would change her mind! Assuming we can coordinate the schedule; we will have an AMAZING speaker for next year’s walk.
The conference was attended by a myriad of scientists, treatment providers, activists, NEDA Staff, moms, dads and those in recovery. It was awesome to see these communities come together for a common cause. It is the dedication and passion of the PEOPLE that make all the difference. We met a young woman who gushed over the healing powers of flotation – which was key in her recovery; I met parents from Alaska who had spent thousands of dollars traveling and seeking intensive treatments in other states for their critically-ill daughter, after having been told initially to wait a few months for a mental-health provider to swing through their remote town–even as their daughter was critically ill. The lack of treatment in non-urban areas is a tremendous challenge.
The conference continues to inspire and I could see it through a slightly different lens with Guzzy by my side. The first keynote was Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Director of the documentary Miss Representation; she gave a wonderful and passionate speech about the gender assigned roles attributed to our children from very young ages and the impacts that has on us personally and collectively. Guzzy has often chided me for my feminist viewpoint, so I was particularly happy to have her hear a feminist perspective from someone else: someone younger, attractive, intelligent and most importantly– not-her-mom. (editorial comment/rant: I realize that many people get the heebie-jeebies from the word ‘feminist’ and will fail to identify as such, even if their perspective is one based on equity and fairness.)
I was able to meet with a couple other walk coordinators; attended several break out sessions: some were great, some were blah and at least one, dealing with study results about brain chemistry, was over our heads. Guzzy chose to nap during the session pertaining to College for ED sufferers. But, I have all the notes for when/if she is ready to think about that. Might be next month, might be next year, might be never.
While San Diego is beautiful, it does not hold a candle to Wisconsin in the Fall. Although I will most definitely yearn for warmer climes in the months to come.