randomly was looking at old files i had organized from con photos. and its starts to dawn on me that my first ever Furcon was 10 years ago. Motor City Fur con 2014. and all moments that lead to that always has been a huge memory for me for multitudes of reasons, so im going just write about it because I can and its 3AM and im having a sentimental moment (also hormones)

2014 was heavy year for me at the time since I was hitting my low depression badly in a lot of ways, moved to Indiana with someone who I was dating at the time and was struggling to find a job in the area. We were kinda scrapping by food money wise (rent was taken care of from ex side of things) but I felt lost and difficult, still remember the last time I try to move away and failed hard in 2012 and felt like I was failing again. No job, no money for more reality things, and being 22 of age and felt so much pressure of just how I was grown up and taught about living on your own and being a adult and I felt... all wrong, I felt like even with my disability with my autism I just couldnt do anything. I was working with a agency to help find work with my disability and was taking months of calls and waiting.

Around this time, one of my friends ( KetchupKitty) suggested about going to a con they were planning, which was the first year MCFC was happening in 2014. I didnt have money to do so but they wanted to help. Maybe this con could help with my moods, maybe lift my spirits a bit. And it really is thanks to her I was able to go. Getting a bus ticket from Indiana to Michigan (9 hour ride which ohhhh boy remembering that now Fuck) and do this con. I didnt know what to expect really, I kept to a strict schedule of the stuff with opening and closing ceremonies, I watched some “its your first con” videos in prep and just doing what I can. With my own anxiety with people I was trying to not have panic attacks but even when I absolutely Was having some, I was able to just. Keep going. And never regretted it, made the down time at night and sleep horrible but I take that for the joy it brought. People I met I knew online for years to new friends I slowly made over the years. All of the photos I took and video of the fursuit parade it was a lot of hella good joy and feelings. (more funny seeing a construction guy walk in-between the fursuit parade and the crowd just cheered on them. It was great).

Its hard to fully remember ever bit and moments but it really hit a good well on me and happy and still Thankful to this day I was able to go. It was well needed. But I think the one thing that always stuck with me the most with this con, was learning that Uncle Kage was going to be there and meeting them. I knew of them for years from many panel videos, story hours, and the science and pseudoscience crap panels that showed up from Eurofurence. I had many respects for the person that first meeting I was, scared and nervous because of my social issues in general. And was always funny when at one moment as talking, him saying “do you need to sit down your knees are shaking” and I realized how much I was worrying. The things I enjoyed from those chats, was about stories of history of things, like learning about Paul R Gordon and the stories he went through with WW2 (look up “Fourth Down, Cant Run, Cant Pass” Book.) and from there, they suggested other books to read as well as some docs about stories in ways I havent seen before. And it stuck with me with that con, and added more to what I enjoy being in this fandom. Yea, to get more different topic, I love what furry has done with opening myself up about things, how I feel and see myself (and also all of my weirdness of kinks) but also just how we have so many ways we can connect and talk about of subjects when it interests you and the other. The amount of conversations Ive had about movies, books, music, life, countries just. People and time. Always leaves that impression when I see things.

Im 32 now, and the last time I did MCFC was 2019, havent been there in awhile mostly because of how the con lines up to what ive been doing now. I Live in Wisconsin for almost 3 years and possible moving somewhere else (still deciding on a friends proposal) my job isnt a big career but I enjoy it. Ive been around other cons and people. And just how much has changed in 10 years. Furcons are special in there own way depending on how you see it and feel for it. And im happy to keep MCFC 2014 has a close memory as my first furcon and the people I knew from there and onwards.

~Taya Erindra