"What was it that made you and enticed you to attend Dragoncon your very first time"?
I grew up with geek parents. First-generation Trekkies. I was a well-behaved toddler/kid, so they had no problem taking me to movies with them. I saw Star Wars when I was 2, I saw Superman, I saw Chariots of Fire, and so on and so on. They also read to me and encouraged me to do it, myself. Taught me research methodology... So by the time I hit high school, I was aware of these things called conventions that had been going on for some time. I'd seen and heard stories from various WorldCons over the years -- shenanigans and exploits of folks like Asimov and Heinlein and Aspirin. We have a decent local independent genre convention called NorWesCon, and another not too far away down in Portland called -- appropriately enough -- OryCon.
I've also been to San Diego's, New York's, and Seattle's comic cons, and several Star Wars Celebrations. I like those for what they are, when done well. Ditto anime cons. But I like the energy at the broad-genre cons. I like that they're in hotels. I like the panels and costumes and general inclusiveness I always feel. And I kept hearing Stories about Dragon*Con (now Dragon Con, for reasons). In 2008, circumstances aligned for me to attend it. And upon doing so I knew that I had to do whatever I needed to to make it back each year.
Maybe someday I'll even have some finished costumes that I can wear in Atlanta without melting and that I can wear in the crowds without me getting broken or innocent civilians getting accosted by sticky-out bitz...
I'm a little upset that I won't be bringing a costume this year. Maybe next year I'll have something, but wearing my snowtrooper with as hot as it has been in Atlanta every year at DC, I can't find myself justifying that.
'Sokay. I'm going to be in mufti, too. I'm just chuffed I finally get to meet you. I've respected your opinion on costuming matters over in the direction of the 501st for some time.
--Jonah