And now we pine.

[dysonrules]

So, lubricus was amazing and now we can all go back to our regular lives with ALL THE SAD.  I know some of you reading this have never been to a convention or a fandom meetup and all I can tell you is that if you ever have the opportunity, you should DO IT.  There is something so incredible about hanging out with people who "get" you and this wonderful, bizarre, outwardly-strange world of fandom that we inhabit.  There is nothing quite like dropping your usual cautious filters and blurting out things you might never dare say in your day-to-day life.  (I say might because some of us are "filters, what filters?")  There is something indescribable about laughing until you hurt, talking about writing and art and fandom, discussing the strange juxtaposition of jobs, significant others, children, and whatever drives us to fandom and sticks some of us there like glue.  There is nothing like putting a name to a face, and to making connections where you never expected to make them.

I don't think I'll ever get over the thrill of meeting fandom friends and realizing that the people we choose to share this passion with are some of the most creative, talented, original, friendly, and generous, people in the world.  (I could tack a few more adjectives on there, but then I would get the alisanne frowny-face of "you don't need that many words.")  The amount of time, talent, sweat, and effort that goes into fandom creations is mind-boggling.  When looked at collectively, it is staggering.  I'm pretty sure we all have one (or more than one, or more than ten) person out there that makes us want to drop to our knees with the "We're not worthy" chant.  I met quite a few of those this weekend.  *fangirl squeal*

This con held an undertone of sadness, because the Harry Potter fandom is winding down from the glory days, when new material was coming out and everything was fresh and new and shiny.  But I think we also realized that something so precious can't be put away so easily.  Some of us have a steely new determination to not let it fade away, to say HELL NO to the urge to box up our HP robes and books and tuck them into a dusty corner of the closet.  Some of us are well aware that our fandom friends are the people we want in our lives, these incredible, passionate people who come together for the shared love of a book series and stay together because of shared love for one another. 

I'm going to miss the people who, for the course of a few shorts days (and sometimes only hours or even minutes) shared a little bit of themselves with their fellow fangirls (and boys).  I'm going to miss the laughter and the hugs and talking about things both fannish and not.  I also plan to stalk some of them mercilessly (I did try to warn some of you - take note), and there will be more emailing and journal commenting and IMing in the future, but there is something magical about making a physical connection that has no comparison with electronic interaction.  Let's face it, glomping and huggles and hair-touching in person is the best thing ever.  And for me, watching someone light up like a flame when they talk about their passion is better than chocolate, better than cheesecake, and possibly even better than Merlot.  (Possibly.)

All of this blathering is to say that I feel extremely privileged and honoured to have met some of you wonderful people, both old friends and new, and I miss you so hard right now I can barely stand it.  At the end of the day, while the books and the movies and the fics and the art draw us together, it's the connections we make with one another that keep the fandom going and will keep it going for a very long time to come.  Oh and speaking of keeping it going for a long time, look what appeared over the weekend as if by magic: hd_kinkmeme Have fun with that.  BWAHAHAHAHA #notamodthankgod #heythatrhymes #hashtaglove

Somehow I ended up with a fuckton of new art GEE HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?  I'll be scanning and sharing some of it because it's too fabulous not to share and share and share.  Artists, I love all of you so much.  *rolls around in the art but not really because it's too precious to crush*  I also have a bajillionty of new fics to read and some people to stalk until they get their original stuff published.  *adds to stalkery Agenda*   Also on the damn Agenda is MORE MEETUPS.  Here, there, and everywhere.

Before I start blubbering and/or fall asleep on my keyboard, I'll herd these deer back into the forest.  Many many thanks to the lubricus mods for putting on a great gathering.  Your hard work is very much appreciated.  *showers them with love and glitter from the Mardi Gras Peen*

FANDOM FOREVER!!!

I miss you guys.  :(