Dragon Con Love Note

You guys know that on Holiday’s I tend to Blog more. Not really sure why if it’s the unscheduled time that I have on my hands, if it’s the ability to think about something other than work, or if it’s just cause I’m reminded that the blog while neglected still exists and a holiday is a good time to post cause people are on their devices. It might also be that subconsciously knowing that if I blog on holidays that will give me some decent content on this thing scattered throughout the year if nothing else. 

However today is more than just a holiday post, I know you guys know it’s Independence Day which is way more than just a movie starring Will Smith and some Aliens. I know fireworks and BBQs are in the air literally and so I’m not going to bore you with that since everyone else will be. I will say if you go out, if you are in a group, please be careful, wear a mask even if others are not. Be vigilant. But nope today’s not about that. Today is a post to Dragon Con specifically, I mean the rest of you feel free to read on. 

Dragon Con incase you don’t know is a Geeky little convention, founded in 1987, that features science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, TV/Movies, literature, Cosplay, art, music, and for some weird reason wrestling that starts the Thursday (Wed for some) before Labor Day every year in Atlanta, Georgia. Loyal readersof this blog know that Golden and I have been attending Dragon Con with various crew members in tow since 2014. Dragon Con brings in over 80 thousand people to an already packed Atlanta on a holiday weekend and takes over 5 “host” hotels as well as other “overflow” hotels throughout downtown Atlanta. It’s owned and operated by a private for profit corporation and wouldn’t be able to do any of it without a huge staff of volunteers who deserve way more credit than they get. Also … it’s in trouble. Damn Covid-19 and damn people not doing what they should have done back in March/April/May and now July/August/September are in jeopardy. 

This year’s guest list so far features voice actors from Steven Universe, actors from Resident Evil and Star Trek Enterprise, as well as a host of comic book artist, writers, animators, and vendors from all over the US and sometimes across the pond as well. With I’m sure more to come as we get closer to the convention. Much like the ap the guest list isn’t fully announced until about a week or two out from the convention. I’ve always been fascinated by the people that Dragon Con can bring to the table since most of the actors/actresses/writers etc., are back at work on their various projects by that time of the year. However the convention being in ATL which is a stones throw from one of the busiest airports in the country might help with that. 

If you follow Dragon Con on Facebook or any of their other social media, Twitter, Instagram etc., they have recently announced the ability to roll over your 2020 membership (that’s right it’s not a ticket it’s a membership) to 2021 if you are concerned about your health and safety. There has been an increase of people saying they are taking Dragon Con up on that. Several of the hotels are also offering this as an option, tho I’m not sure I trust that cause the Dragon Con Hunger Games to get a hotel are fascinating and a huge money maker for these establishments. Then again everything is different this year, so why not this too. I want Dragon Con to know that many are also holding out hope that this years convention will move forward as anticipated. Not to mention that all of this fun is surrounded by a lot of good, there's a Dragon Con Blood Drive and they choose a charity that each panel takes up money for and at the end of the convention give money to that charity. My fear is that the people not going are louder than those that are and Dragon Con might see that and think no one is willing to show up. those of being quiet and waiting for the decision by the powers that be before making decisions are silently saying we aren't coming. That's not the case at least for me and my crew. 

I really want Dragon Con to happen this year. I NEED it to happen this year. I travel with an already comprised partner in crime Golden who has an auto immune disorder so I better than anyone else on the planet know in my brain the struggle a convention like this, right now, has to be for the powers that be at Dragon Con to make. I know what’s at stake likely more than most. That said we are both still willing to jump into the fire. If they hold the convention we’ll wear masks take the extra precautions and show up with our geek flag waving high. 

The truth is if they decide to go forward they make a lot of people angry should everyone get sick on the back end of this thing. As if we weren’t all going to get the Dragon Con Crud anyway. If they decide to bail on it they make a lot of people mad who will see it as another thing the “establishment” is taking from them during this insane year. They can’t postpone it and say try again in January. That’s now how it will work. It’s either do it this year or wait until next year. They are in a literal lose lose situation. I pray for them daily as I know the decision, they are going to have to make, will not be an easy one. 

However with all that said I repeat that I still really really really really want to go to Dragon Con this year. I’m also not saying all of this cause for the first time Golden and I are gonna be in a host hotel, and not any host hotel the mega hotel that houses 90% of the fun … the Marriott. I’m a little devastated that trumpets and angels didn’t ascend when I typed that.  It’s the holy grail of Dragon Con staying. It’s the ability to Con all night and get in bed sleep and get back out there without waiting on a buss or getting an uber. It’s the ability to attend more panels and possibly find the all elusive members only room with snacks and fun stuff in it …. We will find you one day and we will partake in your goodness. It’s the ability to be all in on the convention while also providing Golden with the ability to relax and recover when she needs to. We’ve often stayed at Overflow hotels in the past and they were awesome and the shuttles were great (when they run) but guys A HOST HOTEL with Dragon Con TV and just being in the thick of the 24-7 party come on! That’s the dream! I’m also kind of excited about the idea of a pared down con, with fewer members, fewer drunks, awesome Cosplay and to be surrounded by people who really really want to be there. 

The truth is that the convention is second to me. I cherish those 4-5 days hanging out with Golden. There’s no obligations like family dinners, no gotta rush home to let the dog out and pee, no work responsibilities (ok an occasional phone call or text but for the most part no work responsibilities) it’s 4-5 days of her, me, food, laughter, and walking … lots and lots of walking.  We always show up ready to roll and by about day 3 start dwindling down. By the time I’m back in my car heading home I’m exhausted but also elated to have spent 4-5 days with the person whom I love most in this world. That’s what it is all about for me. Sure that time we got to meet and talk with Nathan Fillion was really cool, watching Alton Brown walk by cause for some reason he chose Dragon Con to announce that Good Eats was coming by was fun, and that time we got to party with the cast of Wynona Earp and all their fans was pretty bad ass, oh and giving freaking Big Bird a hug as he walked to his car as grand marshall of the parade was something I’ll always cherish (RIP Caroll Spinney). 

So I hope the convention holds steady but I’m also preparing for it to not. I hope the organizers do what they know is right for the members, the various hotel staff members, the City and for all those that still want this event to happen. I also hope that should it not the disappointed be just that disappointed, but shift focus to 2021. I know this decision won’t be an easy one to make, matters of the wallet rarely are but I know that no matter what decision is made I’ll be back in 2021 lord willing. 


Marcy 

Waking up …. Getting involved ….

Being from a southern state racism is nothing new to us, we’ve seen it first hand and are now witnessing it at the forefront on a national scale in ways that we have never seen before but should have happened long ago. As, I believe it was Will Smith, said “Racism isn’t new it’s just now being recorded and shared in a variety of ways like never before”. I can’t fathom having to have a talk with my child about walking down a street, or going for a run, or in some cases sadly existing peacefully in my home unaware that that danger is literally at my front door and there’s very little I can do to stop it. Things have certainly escalated in the past few years, hell in the last few months.

These issues should have always been news because the struggle of a large group of our people is newsworthy. Not just during protests, or riots, or even during a pandemic but as we all know the news eventually pivots and changes their focus and the peaceful protest still going on don’t get the coverage they deserve. Until a car is set on fire, or a man returning a helmet gets shoved to the ground, or a rope is hanging in a garage in a very specific manner, or a “Karen” stands “her ground” with her husband and his assault rifle when no one was bothering them to begin with. Then the attention returns but not for any of the right reasons and the message gets distorted, twisted, and sadly diminished.  

We don't know what has taken so long for this to become a national and even a global call to action, but the time to stand up is now. Everyone has the capacity to help all it takes is love and compassion and the ability to know right from wrong and acting accordingly when you are given the chance.
If you are like me you’ve thought how can I get involved, what can I do? Well as Golden told me …. You can help in several ways. You can march. Donate time, money or resources to larger cities with protests for bail. Or on a small scale look local, find the school systems that are comprised of majority students of color, odds are they get less resources &/or funding, donate money, time or supplies to the children there, pay someone’s lunch bill or school fees. Literally anything.  

Give to programs that help low income families that don’t have the financial backing of a federal program. Granted not all people of color are impoverished or low income but due to generations of racism impacting those in charge they tend to pay black women for instance less in the workplace and redraw school districts to clump certain areas together so that black children don't have to be bused in to go to the same schools. Which leads to poor funding then to limited education and then to limited choices after school to working jobs with low pay that make it tough to make ends meet doing things the “right way.” Aka the cycle continues. So the best way to help is to try and break that cycle.

Inner city programs feed the children programs, local community centers all offer programs that work to break that cycle from an early age by offering education and extend choices beyond what they see on a daily basis. Or reach out to women shelters and abuse centers that help provide nice business clothes for women who can't afford them so they can go to job interviews. All of these cost money and your funding would be very welcome. Your time and other resources would be welcome too. However, during this pandemic money might be the way to go.

You can be an ally and if you see someone being a douchebag Karen stand up for those in need or use your white woman/man super power and call out Karen’s in a non-abusive way of course. Don’t be KAREN! 

Other ways to help would be to allow that neighbor or friend who wants to peacefully join the marches by offering to watch their children while they do so. Or ask the neighbor or friend if you can join them at said march. If you do march however please do all of us pale crackers a favor …. don't make shit about you. Be a shield and a record holder use your camera and take notes of cops names and non-cop-wanna-bes names and car tag numbers for anyone behaving outside the law. Realize that within the black community there is also the trans community and should these individuals get arrested for protesting they get thrown into a jail where because of being trans they are beaten abused and raped before bail can be posted. Donate to their cause. Reach out to them and let them know their struggle is equally as important and you are with them. Protect them all with all that you can and then support them fully afterwards.

Check in on your friends and coworkers. Learn the phrase Black Lives Matter FULL STOP. Period. Without trying to pad it. When you see people bird watching or picnicking or buying cigarettes or just trying to live their life mind your own fucking business.

The best thing you can do is invite that neighbor over to the house for something to drink, maybe share a meal, break bread create fellowship. Know that the conversation won’t be easy, it will be uncomfortable and while you might not make a bestie you might not be so concerned the next time they turn around in your driveway to go back home because they forgot something. Who knows you might meet your new bestie and be a better person for it.

Or …. Do nothing at all. Stand on the sideline without adding to the noise, without trying to bend the rhetoric, let their voices sing. Don’t start the chant but maybe join it so it can be louder. Help that person who physically can’t hold up their sign anymore hold it higher. The point is do what you feel comfortable doing in the setting that you find yourself in but know that because you ignore what’s happening it will not go away, nor should it. This has been coming for a long time and it’s just getting started. The world will change for the better. We fully believe that in our hearts.  

This is a turning point, that the light is shining brightly where it needs to at this moment and when my voice is quiet, Golden’s is louder. I believe that we will soon get back to posting about fun things again but for now wear a mask, help when and where you can, and for goodness sakes stop it already with the fireworks. Golden may be team no sleep, but I … I like sleep and I miss it. Days will be brighter soon, I feel it, cause if this is the end game…. well…that will be ok too … I guess.

Marcy & Golden

SayWhat MG