Minneapolis Comic Con 2014

I attended my first nerd convention when I was in grade school. A small underwhelming Star Trek convention in St Paul with my father. My second convention took at least another 20 years.

When I first heard of the Wizard World Comic Con coming to Minnesota, I was thrilled. Then there was the fact that William Shatner would be there. I was over the moon. Eventually, logic set in. The cost was too much. I couldn't justify the money for a picture, an autograph. Just material things I really don't need more of. That Bobby Labonte signed hat hasn't really changed my life....

But a good friend and I had talked about going, and she asked if I was going to go. So I decided to do one day. A day pass, try it out, see how it went. No huge expenditure. Just putting my toes in the water.

I totally regret not doing VIP. Nathan Fillion was there. Shatner was there. That might never happen again. Shatner/Kirk has always been a strange force in my life. Shatner reminds me of my father. But like the bizarro world version. My father is a very good man. But I've never seen him punch an alien. He's entirely too logical to sleep with a green alien. Let alone many.

Yet, Kirk was always like an uncle. A crazy uncle who was cool but not really always trustworthy or functional. I love my father. As a kid Kirk was the cool version of my dad. As I grew I realized that the logic, double talk, charm of Kirk was more my father than I had seen. I didn't really know my father as a person until I had him as a teacher. He was my dad. He wasn't a person. I saw him teach and in that classroom, in front of those students, talking about what he cared about. He was Kirk. That's another blog entirely. But long story short. Shatner holds a place in my heart.

I did get to see some great question and answer sessions. Sean Astin, James Marsters, Shatner himself. I loved every minute of it. Shatner answered four questions. He told amazing stories. I got goosebumps twice. I laughed hard. I saw other audience members frustrated by his circular story telling. It all worked. I loved it all. I wish I could have met him myself. Talked to him. I might have hugged him. So it's probably better this way.

But I do know that I will go again next year if there is another con. If there is someone I want to meet, someone like Fillion or Shatner, I will make the expenditure to do so.