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By Kelly McKenzie

(Kelly McKenzie's essay originally ran on her blog with several photos from the 2024 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop.)

Yes, Erma Bombeck made me do it.

Do What? Isn’t she…?

I know, it seems a bit confusing.

But first, if you’re new here, welcome! If not, welcome back!

Last weekend was a worthy one. I spent it in Dayton, Ohio at my fourth in-person Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop (EBWW).

As proclaimed on the website:

“The workshop’s mission is simple: to encourage and inspire writers in the same way that celebrated columnist and author Erma Bombeck ’49 found encouragement and inspiration at the University of Dayton.

Its mantra is timeless: “You can write!”

Getting to Dayton from Canada’s west coast is always a bit of a trek. Unlike the previous three-flight wonders, I got smart this time and booked just two. Wednesday’s flight from Dulles airport in Washington DC was delayed by an hour due to weather issues. Our exhausted flight attendant shared that the one hour inbound flight from Providence, Rhode Island morphed into two hours, thanks to an impromptu diversion up to Ontario. Thankfully, our hour and a bit hop up to Dayton was bumpy but direct.

While I always meet inspiring folk at EBWW, I’d like to highlight two who have had a profound impact on me, thanks to Erma Bombeck.

The first is Val Quinn.

This soul is generosity personified. She always offers to drive three lucky out-of-towners around Dayton on the day before the workshop. This year was no different. We kicked it off in our usual way — a visit to Linh’s Bistro, where we feasted on super-sized platters of delicious Vietnamese cuisine.

In previous years, we capped off the meal with a visit to Woodland Cemetery (established in 1841) for a quiet moment with Erma at her final resting place.

However, as it was just the two of us this time, Val suggested we drop by the National Museum of The United States Air Force. Located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base it is the world’s largest military aviation museum. The museum features more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space.

The other person I’d like to acknowledge, is Allia Zobel Nolan. This gal can write. As she reveals on her website, she has close to 200 books to her name. She has “books for children, adults, cat lovers, worriers, tween devotionals, and lots more….”

I’m actually an author in one of those books. Yes, the anthology Laugh Out Loud — 40 Women Humorists Celebrate Then and Now… Before We Forget

Francine was thrilled to receive her copy back in 2018. It’s a very funny and worthy read.

I was delighted to read a few chapters and chat about the experience at my friend’s book club in the summer of 2018.

In 2016 at EBWW, I shared with Allia my dream to write a book about the decade I worked alongside Mom in her iconic Vancouver Asian antique shop. Rather than change the subject, Allia asked me to share a little more. I blathered on about how I somehow ended up being Francine’s right hand gal against impressive odds.

“I couldn’t sell to save myself at first. I didn’t know anything about the inventory and cared for it even less.”

“That’s different. I like it. Write it,” Allia urged.

When she asked me about it again at EBWW in 2018, I confessed I’d only read Francine’s diaries and drawn up some chapter themes. Allia hissed, “Come on, girl, get a working title. Then get it done.”

I did.

Now in need of an editor, I reached out to Allia. She introduced me to her former newspaper editor, Jacqueline Smith. The woman’s warm reaction to my introductory chapters were spot on and “Jacqueline” quickly became “Jacky.”

I had my editor. Let the serious work begin.

Thank you, Val, for always making me feel like I’m coming home to family when I visit Dayton.

And thank you, Allia, for giving me the nudge I needed to get my book done.

Most of all, thank you Erma Bombeck. Without you, NNHE would still be just a dream.

But enough about me. I’m curious about you. Are you an Erma fan? Have you a favorite title of hers? Is the grass always greener over the septic tank? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.

—Kelly McKenzie

Kelly is a Canadian writer who worked at her mother's iconic Vancouver Asian antique store for over a decade. A huge Erma fan, EBWW was her 4th in-person workshop.