SPX!
I'm sitting here at a laundromat filling the time while machines do their work. I figure writing this is my work and it's time to try to put the last few days into perspective.
SPX stands for Small Press eXpo (I know, the letters don't really match, but whatever) and takes place in Bethesda, Maryland. We have only done the show a few times. Scott's been to one or two without me. The thing about SPX is that it's small and there are lots of cool young cartoonists. This means there's the ability to have actual conversations with people and you come back with lots of great new comics.
(Okay, that didn't work. The laundromat had the TV on too loud for me to concentrate. Then life. So I'm finishing this today, Wednesday.)
But this year the show seemed to have a vibe. I've been trying to figure out a way to express it. The closest I've been able to come up with is Circle of Life? I got to talk to lots of people (my favorite part of any con), but many of my conversations were about the big things. There was more than one good friend who is getting a divorce, others getting married. My mom called to tell me a friend of ours had died, and there were other recently deceased people being talked about at length, and babies! Besides getting word of Neil and Amanda having their baby, I got to hold a beautiful four month old, and see a friend we'd met earlier this year who was due practically any minute. I spent the whole weekend feeling sad and happy simultaneously. Which is not easy. And not actually fun (except for the holding the baby part, that was just happy!).
Then there were my friends. There were a bunch of people I'd hoped to spend some time with, and our time together (if we saw each other at all) was enough for a hug, and not much more. On the other hand, I actually got some real time with people I've not gotten to hang with in far too long, so that was great.
In the just fun portion of the weekend, I did get to see some panels and they were all very interesting and lots of fun. Scott's panel was well-received, and I had (as usual) a great time kibitzing from the front row! So many people mentioned loving the panel throughout the rest of the day, which was cool. Scott had two signings at the CBLDF booth, and they both had huge lines, people even got turned away (which was both sad and cool).
All in all, I had a good weekend, I guess. Just a little bit off, not right. I'm not loving growing old.
Though the nearby Dunkin' Donuts did have my favorite kind (Chocolate Kreme: So. Good!), so that part was solidly happy.
The Monday after the con, we were invited to stop by Richard Thompson's (of Cul De Sac fame) house for a visit. So of course we went. Richard was a political cartoonist before he started working on the strip. Cul de Sac is considered one of the best comic strips of recent history. It's pretty awesome. Thing is, Richard developed Parkinson's Disease, and his career ended. He's now in a wheelchair, with limited capacity to do much. Talking is not easy for him. Meeting him, for me, was an honor. I love meeting funny, smart people. I wished I'd met him before he was sick. As it was, I could understand much of what he said, but not all. I expect he was much more interested in meeting Scott, but he included me in the conversation as well. When we left, I wanted to scream at the universe for being so cruel. And to just sit in the car and cry for how senseless it all was. I'm very glad I had the opportunity to meet him. I hope I will be able to do so again (along with his family, who I gather have quite a bit in common with me).
Thank you, again, Shena, for arranging it!
After meeting with Richard, Scott and I drove off to a hotel a few hours away in Pennsylvania, where we've been hiding out ever since. I did laundry, Scott answered email. We went to two (or three, depending on how you count) movies (We saw Grandma together, the next day Scott saw Black Mass, while at the same time I saw Maze Runner 2).
And I've, very slowly written this post. Tomorrow we head for Milwaukee, where Scott speaks on Friday.
I'll likely wait until after that to post again.
Just realized I was supposed to fast today, and didn't. Told Scott I'd do it tomorrow, and he said I'm not allowed to because I'll be driving all day. He's right. Arg. I am such a bad Jew. :-(
SPX stands for Small Press eXpo (I know, the letters don't really match, but whatever) and takes place in Bethesda, Maryland. We have only done the show a few times. Scott's been to one or two without me. The thing about SPX is that it's small and there are lots of cool young cartoonists. This means there's the ability to have actual conversations with people and you come back with lots of great new comics.
(Okay, that didn't work. The laundromat had the TV on too loud for me to concentrate. Then life. So I'm finishing this today, Wednesday.)
But this year the show seemed to have a vibe. I've been trying to figure out a way to express it. The closest I've been able to come up with is Circle of Life? I got to talk to lots of people (my favorite part of any con), but many of my conversations were about the big things. There was more than one good friend who is getting a divorce, others getting married. My mom called to tell me a friend of ours had died, and there were other recently deceased people being talked about at length, and babies! Besides getting word of Neil and Amanda having their baby, I got to hold a beautiful four month old, and see a friend we'd met earlier this year who was due practically any minute. I spent the whole weekend feeling sad and happy simultaneously. Which is not easy. And not actually fun (except for the holding the baby part, that was just happy!).
Then there were my friends. There were a bunch of people I'd hoped to spend some time with, and our time together (if we saw each other at all) was enough for a hug, and not much more. On the other hand, I actually got some real time with people I've not gotten to hang with in far too long, so that was great.
In the just fun portion of the weekend, I did get to see some panels and they were all very interesting and lots of fun. Scott's panel was well-received, and I had (as usual) a great time kibitzing from the front row! So many people mentioned loving the panel throughout the rest of the day, which was cool. Scott had two signings at the CBLDF booth, and they both had huge lines, people even got turned away (which was both sad and cool).
All in all, I had a good weekend, I guess. Just a little bit off, not right. I'm not loving growing old.
Though the nearby Dunkin' Donuts did have my favorite kind (Chocolate Kreme: So. Good!), so that part was solidly happy.
The Monday after the con, we were invited to stop by Richard Thompson's (of Cul De Sac fame) house for a visit. So of course we went. Richard was a political cartoonist before he started working on the strip. Cul de Sac is considered one of the best comic strips of recent history. It's pretty awesome. Thing is, Richard developed Parkinson's Disease, and his career ended. He's now in a wheelchair, with limited capacity to do much. Talking is not easy for him. Meeting him, for me, was an honor. I love meeting funny, smart people. I wished I'd met him before he was sick. As it was, I could understand much of what he said, but not all. I expect he was much more interested in meeting Scott, but he included me in the conversation as well. When we left, I wanted to scream at the universe for being so cruel. And to just sit in the car and cry for how senseless it all was. I'm very glad I had the opportunity to meet him. I hope I will be able to do so again (along with his family, who I gather have quite a bit in common with me).
Thank you, again, Shena, for arranging it!
After meeting with Richard, Scott and I drove off to a hotel a few hours away in Pennsylvania, where we've been hiding out ever since. I did laundry, Scott answered email. We went to two (or three, depending on how you count) movies (We saw Grandma together, the next day Scott saw Black Mass, while at the same time I saw Maze Runner 2).
And I've, very slowly written this post. Tomorrow we head for Milwaukee, where Scott speaks on Friday.
I'll likely wait until after that to post again.
Just realized I was supposed to fast today, and didn't. Told Scott I'd do it tomorrow, and he said I'm not allowed to because I'll be driving all day. He's right. Arg. I am such a bad Jew. :-(