I love indexing. I love working free-lance but as with even the best things, there are some “downside” things. One is that freelance indexing can be rather solitary. I appreciate Facebook as it allows me to keep in contact with other indexers in between conferences but nothing compares to meeting the “names and pictures” face to face, hearing indexing spoken, and the learning and new ideas that always come from professional meetings like the American Society for Indexing (ASI) national conferences.

Even with all those good things, I am always glad to head for home. I have this silly idea that my cat probably needs me (despite most excellent care from a good friend while I’m away) and I’m anticipating seeing what the bees have done while I’ve been away. So I’m glad to be packing up and contemplating my early morning plane ride home.

As usual, I leave the conference with new ideas, new friends, and reconnection with old friends and appreciation of the contributions of other indexers to my development as a professional in the field of indexing. I also leave with a little sadness that I won’t see many of these people for another year. There is the hope that in some way I’ve managed to leave a contribution to the profession and to pay forward some of the benefits that I’ve gained from ASI members.