I am generally having a good time at SBL thus far. I am certainly not one of those people who has dreams of biblical or religious academia, goes to one conference, and calls it quits because of a horrible time. Well, at least not yet. I still have a few days to go. My personal favorite presentations have been two done by Richard Hays, who is ever the skilled communicator. I also got to have dinner with my former prof and college mentor and some of his friends last night, then a good Quiznos lunch with a fellow PMCer (Pasadena Mennonite Church, that is . . . we’ve got a bunch of people here). I wanted to highlight two interactions, though, as an interesting moment of the day. One that made me feel about as significant as a gnat, another that boosted me up quite a bit.

I was perusing the grand book exhibition, looking for super deals, when the first incident happened. I found a book that is on my list of “priority books” that I made for the conference and it was a third the price. I had picked it up and was looking for the place to purchase it, when one of the women working there said (in a tone befitting a scolding parent slapping the wrist of a child with a hand in the cookie jar):

“Oh, we’re not selling the last copy.”

Me (feeling scolded): “Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was the last one” (nor did I realize they weren’t selling the last one as there was no sign indicating such). She handed me the catalog where you can order it for 20% (whoop-dee-doo, I can get it for less on Amazon).

Me: “Will you be selling it on the last day?”

Her (hesitantly): “Yes . . . but it’s first come first serve” (meaning: I don’t think you’re going to be the first served.)

As I placed it back, she said (as if with hope for some alternate means of discount . . . i.e. a free review copy?): “Do you teach?” Alas, she had found my weakness. “No.” “You’re a student?” “Yes.” “Yeah, you look too young to be a teacher . . . [pause] I hope that’s not offensive to say.” Me (feeling belittled and, yes, offended): “No.” And I walked off.

But then, I turned the corner and saw my adviser from Messiah, Mike Cosby. He was on his way to a meeting with an editor, but he stopped and said hi. Then, he said (in a laudatory fashion): “You look very professional.” “Thanks!” There wasn’t much else said and I hope I get to see him again during the conference, but it was just the medicine I needed to get over the unfortunate incident with the no-last-book lady. I should note that I understand why they weren’t selling the last book, it was just the way she handled me as an unimportant customer that was bothersome.

I’ve got more to check out this afternoon and evening. It looks like it’s going to shake out into a good evening.

Update (11/21/2006): Two things:

• I went to the booth for the book in which I was interested to see if I could indeed be the first one to grab it and, lo and behold, it had been “reserved” with a scholar’s business card. Interesting that they extended the privilege to “reserve” a book to someone other than myself. I am still a peon.
• The next day, I found Mike Cosby after going down to the exhibition hall for the express purpose of finding him again. We had a great little 5-10 minute catch-up conversation.