Emotional Armageddon
This weekend although great was really hard and emotional for me and I can’t really explain why. I was very thankful for all my amazing friends and con family, they helped me through it all. They were there for me in a time of need and I appreciate that such very much. I think that was part of the problem, we only see each other once a year, I wish it was more.
A group of friends and I decided it would be easier to stay in the city for the weekend. We booked a place across the road from the exhibition centre so we were nice and close. It was great being so close to the event, we had somewhere to go just to chill out if need be. And it was nice not having to drive in and out of the city each day, always a bonus.
Guests and Working
The main guest I was excited about at this event; was getting the chance to see Torri Higginson again. It has been over five years since I last saw her at that very first convention I attended. It was great seeing her again and being able to chat with her and reminisce. It was also good to see Ben Browder and Michael Shanks again and to meet all of the other amazing guests.
This year my job as a volunteer was to be a queue minder for the three Dr. Who guests. Sylvester McCoy, Sopie Aldred and Paul McGann, who were all lovely especially Sylvester. I’m not a Doctor Who fan myself, but it didn’t stop me from chatting with them. Or their fans throughout the weekend I even had to get a photo with them as a memento.
Interesting Encounter
There was an interesting moment that I recall from the weekend. I was working the queue when a group of people I went to high school with, joined the queue. I went to a fairly small school but even so we weren’t friends, more like school acquaintances. In other words we tolerated each other over the years, I didn’t really have many friends at school.
Anyway, I didn’t know if they recognised me or not as they never said anything to me at the time. And I was being professional as I was working so I just treated them like all other fans. However, that evening I suddenly had all these new Facebook friends requests. I guess they did recognise me after all, I decided to ignore the requests. I’m not interested in people wanting to be friends because of what I do as a volunteer.
Guest Photos
Throughout the weekend I got several photos with different guests, mostly the Stargate actors. Including Ben Browder, Michael Shanks and Torri Higginson. A good friend of mine was overseas at the time of this event and it was the first time I’d attended without her. So her partner and I got a photo with Torri with a ‘wish you were here’ sign. With my photo with Torri I had to give her a tube of Vegemite, especially after last time. I also love my photos with Michael and Ben, In was wearing my Stargate costume and had my weapons too. I love how Ben autographed the photo too, both great guys to spend time and chat with again.
Saturday Dinner
On the Saturday night there was dinners with some of the guests, so I purchased a ticket for dinner with Torri. This was a great evening spent with not just Torri but good friends too. Two of the friends at this dinner were people I had met at the first event in 2005. We were all having fun reminiscing over that event and others.
I have created so many great friendships from attending these events. I was never great at making or keeping friends. So it’s always special when even just five years on I still have friends from that very first event.
Note: My Mum actually made the dress I wore to this dinner.
Sunday Emotions
On the Sunday, as the event started to wind down for the weekend. The Dr. Who guests had already left for the day, they may have had a panel to end the weekend. A friend who was sitting with Torri, asked me to take over so she could get some things done.
Whilst sitting with Torri we talked about a lot of things and reminisced about the 2005 event. I mentioned I was a little sad about my friend not being there at this event. I this this was the tipping point and suddenly I got really upset and started to cry. I don’t know exactly what made me so emotional but I couldn’t stop the tears from coming. It was silly and I felt so very embarrassed by it, but sometimes you just can’t help yourself.
Emotional Breakdown
I did managed to pull myself together to finish the rest of the event. However, once the event was over and the guests had all left the emotions hit me full force and I lost it. The guests and attendees had all left and it was just the staff starting the pack-up process. I remember sitting down against the wall and crying. I don’t really know the underlying reason for being so emotional, I think it was a combination of things. Missing my friend, being tired and not wanting the event to end some of the reasons.
I also believe that I was letting out a build-up of relief as earlier that week I’d received the results of some medical tests. The results were good, but I’d been so anxious about them and perhaps that relief is what pushed me over. Everyone knows that you’re suppose to keep your personal life and professional life separate, but it’s hard.
All I know is that I am so thankful to have such an amazing group of friends and con family. They helped me through it, sitting with me, talking to me and comforting me. Sometimes it’s hard to admit weakness, in this moment it made me so grateful to be apart of such a loving and caring community. I love these people so much and cannot imagine my life without them in it. We have a good time and create great memories, but we are also there for each other. Especially during the harder times, we’re always there to look out for each other, it’s an important part of friendship.
COMPLETE GUEST LIST |
Ben Browder, Michael Shanks, Torri Higginson, Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy, Sopie Aldred, Jay Laga’aia, Claudia Christian, Juliet Landau, Miracle Laurie, Michael Bieh, Michelle Forbes, Jerri Manthey, Jonny Fairplay, David Faustino, Lloyd Kaufman, Bruce Hopkins, Bill Farmer, Mela Lee, Vic Mignogna, John DiMaggio, James Tucker, Daniel Way, Darick Robertson, Lar Desousa, Rya Sohmer and Georges Jeanty. |
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