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I had posted this on the FB page for Galacticon, but wanted to repost it here...and add a few additional thoughts.

My girilfriend and I attended this Con on Saturday.  In large part because I had seen a promo at an EMP event. I brought it home with me and when we had our next date, I said, hey would you be willing to go to this?  To my surprise, she was game - and just not in the humoring the BF mode.  She recognized some of the actors, a thing I have never been good at.  For me, my goal was to get two  signatures from Star Trek Axanar actors that were listed.  I bought our tickets and made arrangements, we sandwhiched the Con between a host of other things as a trip to Seattle is such that it's worth packing the time there. 

For both of us, this was our first fandom convention, and for her the first Con of any type...and WE HAD A FLIPPING BLAST.

Yep, we went on line a few days before the convention....saw the drama, saw the changes, saw the cancellations and we still had a great time.  Yes, one of the actresses who I had hoped to get a signature from cancelled, but I will hopefully catch her at some other event. 

We arrived, got our wrist bands and then explored.   We had promised to help with the Axanar booth, but were able to see the panels we wanted to see, meet folks, see the exhibits and have a great time.  I added signatures to the Axanar tee, listened to discussions on new SciFi shows, saw some amazing props including an ambulance, and enjoyed the Con.  My girlfriend got to meet cast members from Land of the Lost, and really had a great time with getting autographs for family members, visiting the booths, and enjoying her first Con of any type.

The exhibitors were amazing.  Some wonderful things are now on my Christmas list for my kids and yes myself.  The sudden changes in leadership did cause some level of confusion at times with the Con's staff and volunteers...but, most helped out with questions and inquries.  From a participant's view, it seemed to be well organized, with a few quirks, and deep in offerings to those that attended.  OH, and did I mention We HAD A GOOD TIME! 

Outside, I got a fist bumb from Richard Hatch when I shared the fact that I kept encouraging my son to remember the advice Richard had given in Tacoma versus that which Dirk had shared.  I had the chance to share the original BSG movie with my then 12 year old son, much in the same way I got to see it with my dad albeit a year or two younger.  That was really cool, by the way.  But, to see a giant grin on Richard's face, followed by a "thank you" fist bumb...yea that was pretty awesome.

Equally enjoyable was the singing Klingons - JG and Robert were hilarious at the Axanar booth...Got to meet Alec and Diana, but more than that, got to talk with them,, promote Axanar while they did their panel.  My girlfriend even enjoyed meeting and talking with them - adding to our collective time.

I had hoped to get Kate's signature on the Axanar teeshirt, but as things happened I got Jewel Staite's signature and talked with her briefly - very nice lady. Can say the same of Claudia Christian, loved her in Babylon 5, and she is a favorite of my girlfriend's father...was really impressed in how she is helping others.  Remarkable lady.  In the end, I did get Kate's signature, but not on the teeshirt...but from a raffle winning. 

I also got to meet some really cool folks - twins from Europe, a great group from Australia, Richard from Raliegh, who joined us on the grass that evening to watch the showing of Selma. 

I realize that this Con was to be this major, national event.  I would  hope that sometype of annual PNW Sci-Fi con could come out of this - I realize that there are a couple of great comic conventions - Jet City being a great favorite - but one focused on the growing sci-fi offerings would be an annual "return" event - I would even help with the organizers!

Thank you everyone who carried on, made the convention happen.  Truly unsung, or not sung loudly enough, heroes!