Early in the Nineteen fifties it was here in San Francisco that the TA theory originated! Getting to meet in San Francisco many contemporaries of Eric Berne the originator of TA theory was a fabulous experience of being at this conference. I felt honored and privileged to meet in person Fanita English, Claude Steiner, Steve Karpman and Richard Erskine and Muriel James. To hear from the originators of the theory about how they developed the theory was exciting. This conference was the celebration of the 50th year of Berne's best Selling book "Games People Play" and hence the Conference theme was chosen as " TA Now a Game Changer". The presentations were all woven around this theme. Hearing so many perspectives of the same theory helped me to widen and deepen my thought processes.
Another important highlight for me was to meet TA practitioners from all the continents of the world (about 30 countries). That made it truly international!! In spite of the fact that English was mother tongue only for about 25% of the participants at the conference we communicated well. The impact and importance of nonverbal communications was obvious. To hear TA theory spoken in so many languages was tremendous! The voluntary work of the translators who painstakingly spread themselves around for people who needed help with English is remarkable. I sat on a CTA Examination board with examiners from three other countries and examined a candidate from a fifth country with the help of a translator. It was truly an enlightening experience for me. I felt very human and aware of the fact that all people are similar at the core of their being! What a wonderful theory Berne created from his awareness of this human similarity! I realized the power of body language as well as the need for language for humans to communicate internal experiences like thoughts and feelings! I felt honored to do a workshop along with stalwarts in TA like Jean Clarke and July Hay. I realized once more the value and meaning of the concept of Okay-Okay stance that the TA community stands for!
From the 'Child' point of view the pleasant weather of San Francisco sitting in the front yard of the Airport Marriott was very relaxing and invigorating at the same time!! Lucy Freedman and her colleagues chose a beautiful location and took care of the physical arrangements exquisitely.
On a personal note, I enjoyed spending a week with my son and had the privilege of being chauffeured by him to and fro for all the days of the conference. I swelled with pride to see him grown up to be on his own and even take care of me . I felt happy and thankful to be his mother!
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