Has it Been 30 Years?

[puppetmaker]

Peter and I will be at ChattaCon this weekend. I was thinking this morning when I couldn't get back to sleep when my first convention was and what my first convention out of town (ie Not in Atlanta) was. So I think I have it figured that I have been going to convention for 30 years now. My first out of town convention was ChattaCon. That's quite a few years of going to conventions. But then I look at Ariel and Caroline who probably can't remember a time that they didn't go to conventions. I know Caroline's first convention was in urtero and in Europe.

I am looking forward to seeing old friends and the possibility of having an uninterrupted conversation. This will also be the first time since Caroline was born that Peter and I have gone to a convention without the kids. My brother will be throwing his usual party or his unusual party as the case may be. Overall I am going up there to have fun and a little relaxation time since I don't have any panels on my schedule. Don't get me wrong, I love the panels that I do at various conventions. It is just going to be interesting to go somewhere as "the wife".

A number of years ago when Peter and I were just dating, we went to ChattaCon on a lark. He wanted to go to a convention not as Peter David but as Kath's Boyfriend and since ChattaCon is my old stomping ground, it seemed a good place to do it. My friend Bill drafted him into helping to pour beer in the con suite. So Peter was checking IDs and pouring beer like a pro. One guy came up and handed Peter his ID. Peter checked the date and handed it back. The guy did a double take and said, "You're Peter David!"

"Yep."

"What are you doing here?"

"Pouring you a beer now what do you want?"

The guy got a beer and went back to the table he was sitting at with his buddies. There was a lot of animated talking and pointing. Finally one of his buddies came up to Peter and said, "Our pal says that you are the writer Peter David."

Peter finishes pouring a beer for someone else, turns to the guy, and says, "Yes I am." To which the guy goes back to his table and confirms what the first guy told them. Which I think gave them a pretty neat convention story to tell.

I am grateful for comfortable conventions.

Comments

[thetripper]

Yeah, but he's always my friend Kathy's husband. Oh and he writes books.

Sorry, I won't be at Chatta this year. Gots too much to do and Elliott's too young to leave with the 'rents.

[querldox.livejournal.com]

Reminded me of the story about the neopro who attended a NESFA (New England Science Fiction Association) meeting and was asked if he'd like to help with collating the club 'zine. He explained that such was beneath a pro's dignity...at which point the door to the room where the collation was taking place opened, and someone stuck their head out to say that they were running out of certain pages and needed more printed. Said someone being Isaac Asimov.

[wherdafux-d-cat.livejournal.com]

Ha! Love it! :)

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

Gee, my favorite con story isn't nearly as good.

But my animal rescue group did have some animals for adoption at a con in mid-MO in 2002, and a dog that later became my dog (long story) came within 6 inches of peeing on David Weber's foot...in the art show...and he cleaned it up. He was really gracious about it, since he rescues animals, too.

[duck-puddle.livejournal.com]

Haha! I can imagine what a great story that must be for those guys!

[amarafox.livejournal.com]

That's AWESOME!

I remember when I met you at the Star Wars thing at Dragoncon and we were both 'Where do i know you from?'

I think my best con story is chatting with a rather nice british guy, only to find out he was Terry pratchett. Then Terry proceeded to kick my ass at a video game.

Second to that is Trying unsucessfully to not be fangirl at meeting Bill S and swooning when he told me my work tad a nice flow to it and to keep doing what I'm doing.

[readinggeek451]

I don't think I realized you had been going to conventions quite that early. Certainly not out-of-town ones. Huh.

(Oh, and have fun!)

[norda.livejournal.com]

Enjoy your time as being "just Kath".

I need a relaxacon. I'm hoping that Lunacon will do that for me.

[hergrace.livejournal.com]

It's sad but true that I've never made it to a ChattaCon...Oh wait! I tell a lie. I went to one ages ago when Ron and Lin were either first married or just dating. That tells you how long ago it was. Charles tried to get us to go to the Aquarium, but I think we just ended up seeing the Choo Choo. :-)

My first semi-real convention (tho not really) was a fun 2-guest only appearance of Jon Pertwee and Liz Sladen in Tampa. No hotel, just an auditorium. And two dealers. It was great fun, tho, and Jon and Liz were delightful.

My first "real" con was IIRC Moc I in Macon. Tho....I may have attended DixieTreks before then. Later on came the big Who convention in NOLa. (back when I was a sweet young, svelte thing). My o my...good times.