Each summer, as the heat and storms both gather in the Sunshine Swamp of Florida, a brief respite exists for one weekend: Megaplex. A smaller, more intimate con than you might find with AnthroCon or Midwest Fur Fest, this con provides a more laid back, socially-focused experience for furs. The days leading up to the con were filled with the usual drudgery of the daily grind. Work, bills, and the standard chit chat we have to engage in to help keep ourselves going. And as the vacation at long last began, I thought to myself of the wonderful treats that were in store for me this weekend.

Little did I realize the unexpected loss I'd have to go through first.

And then it all went silent
I had the good fortune of hosting the always excellent before the con began. I began planning what I would cook for him, how to keep him entertained, and most importantly when his flight arrived. As I drove a course I've taken a hundred times before, a typical Florida deluge began to rain down on the road. Carefully maneuvering my way toward the airport, a smile came over my face as the exit approached. Slowing down for the ramp, I started up the exit and began to turn into the curve. Unfortunately, the rear end of my car continued to turn. Realizing that the car was out of my control, fish tailing, I tried to engage in emergency course correction. But unfortunately it was too late, my front end struck the guard wall, and then it all went silent. At least for a moment, before the airbag deployed in my face, my car horn blaring, and smoke filling the main cab. With my glasses thrown from my face, I managed to steer into the emergency lane, shift into park, and exit the vehicle. Checking to make sure I was in one piece still, a good Samaritan stopped to make sure I was in no immediate danger. My arm was bleeding from the burns I sustained from the airbag deploying and I was sore from the physical strain of the impact. Fortunately I have always chosen safe cars, and I was able to walk away. Keeping me company as I telephoned AAA and my insurance provider, I was then left alone with my wrecked car, the car that I loved and had paid off, for nearly 3 hours before the tow truck arrived.

Fortunately, as I waited, my phone repeatedly lit up with texts and calls from many a furry friend. I had told one or two people of my accident, as I needed someone to pick up Nbowa so as not to leave him stranded at Orlando International (a fate no one deserves), and from there word seemed to spread. And the amount of support, offers of rides and of help in general were very much overwhelming. In talking with a few friends, I mentioned that in light of the wreck, I was considering not attending Megaplex. And the response was unanimous, "You need to go". Arriving home that night, still in shock, I was paid a visit by a group of furry friends, including a pair of overseas visitors, each bringing hugs, support, and genuine care to make sure that I was okay (in particular thanks to a certain Scottish musician fox and the goggled wonder I have called my best friend for 15 years). Going to bed that evening, my mind struggling not to continue rerunning the scenario from earlier. What could I have done, how I could have saved my car. All the useless, self-defeating thoughts that plague you after a loss of any sort. After managing a few hours, mostly thanks to some painkillers I had on hand, I awoke, took note of the burns, bruises, and stiffness, and decided to do the only thing I could do: move forward.

Obtaining a 狗操的 rental car (yes, I started swearing in Chinese at this horrible car), I arrived at home to find a 'lion' waiting for me, complete with plenty of hugs, and encouragement to relax in the upcoming weekend. Trying my best to smile past the aches, pains, and depression, I loaded the jungle cat into the rental car and carefully drove to the hotel. If nothing else, perhaps time in the giant pool would help.

What awaited me from the moment I walked in until the last glance back at the hotel Monday when I departed was a truly overwhelming level of support, care, and concern. From people coming up to give 'gentle hugs', and encouragement to unwind and try to relax, that more than one time I had to take a break, jump out of the timestream and emotionally recover from the warm feelings. Just being at the con, surrounded by so many friends, so many smiling faces, and so many warm hugs were helping me to realize that not only was I still alive, but I was still here, still able to move forward, and that I was still needed.

The weekend became a blur of hanging out with local friends, reconnecting with those who had traveled here, and even meeting a few new ones along the way (big shout out to a particular otter I met!). Dining at the hotel's bar, swimming in the massive pool as often as I could, swagging out with airhorns, dancing late into the night amidst a storm of professional lasers, multiple fursuit parades, and the therapeutic encounter with a baby tiger ( an actual baby tiger, not someone in a diaper...) all played a part in my recovery. Not to mention overhearing such gems as, "And then I was breastfed", "I'm going to go touch this guy, he's famous", "This isn't the first ass I've grabbed at this con and it won't be the last", "Oh daddy, bounce me on your knee!", "It unzips for easier access but you don't need it because it's already big enough to enter", "You know you want to feel my juices", "She totally filled my holes", and a last minute entry with "My breasts are impenetrable!".

As the closing ceremonies commenced, with the announcement of a new hotel for next year (which looks awesome and has been 100% booked by Megaplex), I found myself once again pulled out of the timestream in contemplation. I had told my friends at the start of 2015 that this was going to be a 'year of endings', and so far that seemed to be coming true. An end to a con's time at a hotel, and end to the time spent with a car, and who knows what other endings were yet to come. Phasing back into reality, looking to spend one last evening with friends, I was able to fully forget about the residual tension and burns that were already fading. One more time, before the night would end.

Packing my car and heading out, the hotel (with its sexy elevator voice) becoming smaller and smaller in my rear view mirror, I felt confidence in me to take on the same highway that had nearly claimed me last week. With me in that car were the thoughts, feelings, and love of so many from that weekend, each telling me to keep going, to keep moving forward, and to keep running toward the future. Though endings may take on many forms and cause unforeseen damage and shock, the healing power of Furry came through this weekend to help put me back together.