It has been a year. Today isn’t a specific anniversary date, but it has been a year since the company that ran a number of conventions including ReGenerationWho imploded. I wrote about my feelings in Death of a Convention last year, but now I’ve had significantly more time to reflect.

That time to reflect has both helped and hurt.

Time away from the chaos, rushing and stress has given me the chance to really enjoy all the fun we had and the amazing things we accomplished over the years. I have so many new friends because of the things we did. We were part of something amazing and wonderful. It has helped me to see just how cool the fandom community really is.

Time away has hurt too. I don’t get to see many of those folks on a regular basis. We’re connected via social media, but sometimes an in person get together is needed. It has also hurt to see folks that did not handle any of this well. I will not name people here, but I have generated a deep and abiding anger toward some parts of the collapsing mess that was. It hasn’t gone away. I don’t think it will any time soon.

I think that’s the key to it all. Keeping the memories and the feelings we all made together. There will be other conventions in the future (not this year of course – 2020 the plague year) and there will be more chances to make that magic.

Keep doing amazing things, even when they hurt a little too. It’s part of what makes us who we are.