LeakyCon Wrap Up

I don't really think there is a way that I can do LeakyCon justice with a blog post. Photos and videos can't even do it justice. It's something that has to be lived.

This was my first ever convention. I've been wanting to attend LeakyCon for quite a while, especially after seeing everyone's videos/photos from last year. This year it finally happened.

I was accompanied by two amazing people Jenny and Kyle, but, it wasn't just the three of us for long. Right away Thursday morning, while in line for a signing raffle we met Denise. Who we spent the entirety of the weekend with. I'm pretty sure she's my first and only Canadian/Argentinian friend. :) And I am so glad that we met.

I have never met so many friendly and wonderful people in my life. After an incident at a panel where I suddenly became known as a teacher I had people coming up to me just wanting to talk. One girl asked for advice as she begins her studies in becoming a teacher. Wow.

I was hugged by complete strangers. I gave complete strangers hugs.

Yes, I saw StarKid perform, met John and Hank, saw amazing wizard rock, watched a new Potter Puppet Pals and cracked up when a group of Warblers (from Glee) sang to Evanna Lynch. But the LeakyCon is so much more than that.

There was a point at the Esther Earl Rocking Charity Ball, when I was dancing in a huge dance circle that I realized I felt connected to these people. I didn't know any of their stories or where they were from or even their names, but, we were all there together, moving our bodies to Firework by Katy Perry, which, couldn't have been more perfect.

This totally random group of 4,000 people was brought together by a book series. Not just to dance, but to have intellectual conversations, sing, dress up in costumes and raise money to make the world suck less. We are a community.

As we were leaving I gave Denise one last hug, she warned me not to cry and I held it in. I was afraid if I started that I wouldn't really be able to stop. I was leaving what felt like my new home.

I think Denise said it best:

I don't want to leave this place, this hotel. Where so many great things have happened. This is my home, these are my people. Here it feels like nothing is wrong with the world. Everybody here is so unique and yet we all understand each other so well. Nowhere else can you meet people and make awesome friends while waiting in line. Nowhere else can you talk to random people and have it not be weird. This is where it all started, and where it all had to inevitably come to an end. LeakyCon giveth and LeakyCon taketh away.

See you next year LeakyCon.