degruy

Never the con crud but always the con funk.

That having to return to “real” life feeling.  To have to put up with mudanes, stupidity and ignorance.  These things all exist at con never fear but they are overpowered by the huge amount of imaginative, kind and courteous people. 

Not to say anything against people that do not like sci-fi, fantasy, horror or whatever.  Some people really love a good Danielle Steele novel or John Grishm or whatever.   Television even CSI or something is a product of imagination.  Reality TV is nothing but real life overlaid with someone else’s imagination.  Why not come play in a fantasy world different from yours?  Or at least not slam someone’s chosen playfield because it does not match yours.

I really feel for those that don’t imagine or who have given up this life because of real life at the con.  The BS “the line was too long” or “ there are always two things I want to go to at once.”  Yeah it happens.  Other people want to see them too.  There is a lot of programming to have and you cannot do just one panel at a time.  There is a ton of stuff I want to do in real life but often I am at work when it is going on.  We all deal with it.  Enjoy what you get to see cause you may never see it again.

What do we have in our world?

You rarely run into magic makers in real life that you can just thank for them doing what they do.  Not having them mobbed by paparazzi that only want a dollar for the pic.  Our photographers just want something they can remember and tell their kids about “I was at ______ and saw Malcolm McDowell just walking along.  He was awesome and thanked me for seeing his movies when I asked for a picture with him.  I had seen him in the restaurant earlier but he was eating so I left him alone.  Glad I saw him out of there.”  Because that is what a real fan does.  Pass up an opportunity to meet someone they love on screen to let them have peace for a few minutes to eat.

No elevator con in real life.  You don’t just get on a elevator and have 3 people on it.  One with a boombox, one with a portable bar and the other to give you a token of being there saying “Welcome to EllieCon!  Have a drink.  Enjoy your trip and we hope that we give you a little more reason to be of good cheer tonight.”

No chasing down the pickpockets.  No Klingons on the street to help out the person whose purse was just snatched.  No one to return the wallet you dropped to the proper authorities and with everything still in it plus a note saying “Looks like you dropped this.  Hope it makes it make to you in time to help out.  Cheers, Just Someone.”

No woman to tell you she knows you after you have had a utterly crappy conversation with a co-worker on the phone that leaves you in a pissy mood.  But now she has spoken a kind “Hey!  I know you.  You go to _________ sometimes.  Nice to see you.”
No late night person to pick you up and get you to your room if you drank a little much and not impose themselves on you happen in real life.  Just that card with their name and number if you ever want to see them or thank them.  If not they still do not know you from Joe Blow and you will never have to have that moment relived to you.

A place where gentlemen still exist.  They do not ask you for you number to bug you.  They give you theirs.  If you want to call do.  If you want to laugh (after they go away) do.  But recognize the bravery it took for them to approach you and smile at them.  It may just make their night in that one gesture on your part.

A place where you have miles of friends that know so much about you good and bad and love you just the same.  You have known them for years and they you but you really do not even know each others names.  It became not important  years ago.  Hey, how are you?  That is what we call each other now.

Just stewing abit till the next con comes around or until I get that smile again that will lift me away back into that world that no one judges you.  The most judgment you will get at a con is “If it makes you happy go for it.  Just don’t get it on my costume.”