It wasn't the con, it was me.

It wasn't the best time to go to a con but cons don't shift dates for an individuals needs. And I had art to sell. Two of my three pieces went. Apparently people don't like bugs. :P

The day before the con, I had to put Hunter, my dear trusted leopard gecko who has been through hell and back with me riding on my shoulders, down due to kidney cancer. There was no recourse. There was no saving that. And worse, seeing a leopard gecko being euthanized is a horrific experience. She did not go quietly or easily despite all attempts to do so. She died in my hands. She was very important to me and she will be greatly missed.

Taku did his best to try to get me to move forward and I ended up with a surprise -- more on that later.

So, it wasn't really much of a con -- more of a extended period of shopping therapy for me. I also got to talk to a lot of vendors and got a lot of ideas for 2023 when I will be making some bold steps towards being a vendor myself. This is the bold steps that having Hunter on my shoulder for would have been apropos, but ... I'll find those steps one way or another. And there are 6 other leopard geckos that we have that may have that shoulder spot. Nothing will ever replace her, but there is a seat.

The biggest problem is that the energy of the con when coming across my emotional needs of loss were at a conflict. They weren't compatible. Thursday night and Friday I didn't want to be there. I seriously considered benedrylling me through the con and just sleeping the entire time.

Taku thankfully helped me get out of that funk and a handful of people who actually acknowledge my existence.

I thank them for doing such, it was great to talk to those I shook hands with and chatted with. It was great reconnecting.
For the rest, meh. And now I have work to deal with.

But I'm back at my drawing tablet and board ... and I'm happy with that much at least.