Mechacon Omega
I don’t like being sentimental here. I’m not good at such things. But now that I have some clarity and time to process, I think it’s time we blow this thing (I’m not sorry).
For those of you in my hometown who know me, you’re probably already aware of what I’m talking about.
So the last ever mechacon was held a couple of weeks ago. Now why the hell this was important to me is because my only other previous time I went was way the hell back when it was small and still in Lafayette. Even then, I met new people and made new friends that I never thought would even be remotely interested in. Still, that was probably one of the only good things I remember from way back as it was my first ever rave and also my first time being at a convention that was not music related. It was so cool seeing all the artwork, the cosplays, and especially playing hours of video games. I literally spent probably a days worth playing games such as MechCorps, SoulCaliber 4, Halo, and others. It truly was a fun experience. Of course I didn’t know it at the time, but I would eventually meet the owner of the convention. I told myself that I would go back someday and even though I’m not a superfan of anime. Don’t get me wrong, I have seen and watched many of the main ones like Naruto, Bleach, etc but I don’t go out of my way to do so. But what was so special about it that I felt the need to go back? It was one of the few places I could just observe without judgement. It’s truly amazing what people can come up with in their cosplays and it’s also cool seeing all the artwork and knick knacks the vendors sell. I turned my brain off from real life for about 3 days while I explored as much of the convention as possible. As always good things must come to an end. “Until next time” I thought. There will always be a next time.
Right so that next time wouldn’t be until 2020 or so I had planned but you know, CORONAVIRUS. That was a sad time. I had just graduated, was making money and then poof. Nothing happening. No events, no concerts, no conventions. 2020 was supposed to be the 15 year anniversary of the convention and although I knew it was going to be the last one, surely ending on a note like that wouldn’t do justice to all the work that was put in. Thankfully, this wasn’t to be the case and so 2021 was set for the convention. And now we get into the best (or worst) part.
It was here. I had landed in New Orleans the day before and prepared for 3 days of turning my brain off. It was insane just how big the convention was. It was already bigger than when I went previously but this was on another level (good thing I’m vaxxed). So in between wandering around the con, attending many of the events held, and somewhat helping my friend sell her artwork, I was having quite the time. But the most impactful part was seeing all the people I had be acquainted with previously. It had been a decade since I had last seen most of them and that’s when it dawned on me and also them, time really has flown by. I was starstruck even in the various party rooms. Then another realization, I can’t be everywhere with everyone at once. I already knew this, but it was just such a hammer blow that I really couldn’t comprehend it during the time. And then the nail in the coffin: Sunday. Sunday was the last day of the con. No. The last day ever of it. I attended the the closing ceremony with my friends. And my god, that is when I lost it. I didn’t think I was alive enough to experience such a gut punch. Wham! The speeches and the folding of the flags and seeing my friends fail to contain their emotions did me in.
I was an emotional wreck.
It was the combination of all this and then seeing all of the people I met who where on the staff of the con throughout the years and becoming friends with most of them, it was a part of their life. And now we where saying goodbye to the thing that perhaps for some of us was our only sense of being happy and being able to enjoy something. And I thought to myself, this is why this con was important to me. Not only because I promised I would attend, but because of all the relationships formed. Some of my closest friends made where because of the convention. I had been trying to prepare all the previous week for when it ended but to no avail. My eyes where red, my face swelled and the last remnants of an amazing event where in the books. To hear words of encouragement from various people for my friends about how even if it was their first time being there, they had a good time. I know what that’s like. I have never seen a place full of people with so many tears. I had thought that I would stand strong since I wasn’t a volunteer or anything of the sort but because of those friendships and knowing what it meant to them was like having your heart broken. And so it was the final flag was folded, the music stopped, and the lights turned on, and here I was trying to reconcile with not only fizzled out relationships that finally gained closure, but also the whole reason I was there. This convention was born out of a love for comics, anime, cartoons, and all the things that are seen as nerdy and geeky. What the staff and the owner of the convention did was share their love for these things and gave them to us for our entertainment. Not for money, not for fame, but just out of a pure love for it. All of these things combined are why this event was such a personal milestone. I still feel distraught even as I am writing this. Congratulations to 15 years of celebration. We couldn’t have asked for a better send off from Crescent Station.
See ya Space Cowboy…