Just back from a solid four days of fun at Westercon, and I am shredded. Tired, sore, still grinning.
My post convention reports are usually complimentary for the most part, but in the past I have gone through item by item weighing out the positives and the negatives, the fun and the drudge, the nice and the not-so-nice. I try to keep my eyes and my mind open and to balance playful and informative.
This time, I'm totally stumped. I can't think of one minus to list. There just isn't one. Even our ten minute treks to and from the farthest hotel room possible from the center of action were a blast. Seriously. We debated
the possibility that the command staff might be piping in happy juice through the air conditioners. Something was up, though I still doubt the drugging theory, because the prevailing theme at Westercon this year seemed to be "nice."
I've never encountered so much niceness crammed into one small space. It brings to mind a line from my favorite spoof-viking movie, when the king of High Brazil announces the secret method for keeping their island from slipping into the sea forever. "We're all terribly nice to one another."
It works, mate. And you know what? It's not bad advice all around.
A huge thanks from me to the staff, volunteers, coordinators, pros, neo-pros ;) fans, guests, and random strangers that made this con my all time favorite. (Okay, I always say that, but really. This time, really.)
Be excellent to one another, and party on dude!
~Frances
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