Anomaly Con 2014 - John's Recap

I had to think long and hard about what to say about last weekend's Anomaly Con. Not because the con was awful, far from it.  But because, well...I've covered a lot of cons in the last two years.  In fact I'm pretty sure I've seen all that our lovely city has to offer when it comes to conventions.  I've been introduced to new genres I've never seen before all thanks to conventions.  

Anomaly Con is one such convention.  I knew OF steampunk a year ago, and I knew nothing of it until I set foot in Anomaly Con.  It taught me just how much of a beloved fandom this truly is and how it will continue to grow.  Everyone at these conventions is happy to educate you, guide you because it is their passion and there is nothing they won't do to share the wonder of what they love most.  

That's the first thing I saw this weekend.  So much passion and joy revolving around the genre.  Everyone wearing their 19th Century best with pride and taking every moment they could to share the genesis of their costume or why they love steampunk. 

But there was something else that Anomaly Con taught me this past weekend that quite frankly, I wasn't expecting.  You see, all weekend long, I ran into people I knew.  Staff from other conventions, artists and people that I haven't seen since a particular con.  I saw familiar cosplayers, faces that I've met over the last two years covering conventions when it finally dawned on me.  

There's a reason we have so many conventions in Denver. There's a reason that many of you reading this article go to them...because they connect every last one of us in their own special way and quite frankly we need them.  Let's face it, three days is not enough time.  We get to see some old friends sure.  But sometimes these weekends are the only time we get to see them.   

Conventions are in their own special way, a surrogate family reunion.  Doesn't necessarily mean we are all being jerks to one another because we don't always hang out.  Some folks live far away where it isn't easy or work wild hours and request the time off for these things. That's all okay.  The important thing we get to see one another again.  I think now about how many times I say to my team "we need to go say hello to..." because this is where we all belong.  These conventions bring our con family together and it was great to see everyone again and Anomaly Con adds to this.  Sure it isn't something we see on television every single day, but we all believe in the passion and we all believe in sharing in it.  It was a joy to be a part of another fine convention filled with such dedication and I cannot wait until the next one to reunite with all of you and share the next one. 

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