Here be dragons!

Garth and I have done a lot of conventions over the years, but DragonCon was unlike any we’ve attended in recent memory.  This was an absolutely tremendous show that had the heart and soul of a show a fraction of its size.  After three days of any convention, I’m usually ready to go home by Sunday afternoon.  This was a four day convention, and I wasn’t eager to leave on Monday.  That hasn’t happened to me in years.

I can’t exactly put my finger on what made DragonCon so different.  Maybe it was the mellow vibe of the crowd, even though it was tens-of-thousands strong in number.  Maybe it was the reasonable hours in the Artist Alley (though some other bigger cons are starting to lessen AA hours these days, which I am very grateful for).  Maybe it was the more mature feel of the weekend, as DragonCon is known to attract a somewhat older crowd.  I even participated in the after-hours “night life” of the convention!  If you went to the Drum Circle on Friday and/or Saturday nights, you may have seen me drumming.  My fingers are still swollen.

Whatever the reasons, DragonCon was a mammoth show with an intimate heart and we had an unforgettable weekend.  We would love to return next year, given the opportunity.