All I have to say is wow, is it good to get back into the fray after a 7 year absence. :) Even though the con went from just breaking 700 people to now approaching the 6,000 mark, it still had that small-con feel. It helped that I got to see a lot of people I haven't seen in the last 3-10 years: Keesh, Theo, Wiley, Darkpawfolf and Tom. The fact that I went with my best friend in the world Tundra, and this was his first con, was a huge reason for finally coming back as I figured I wouldn't know anybody else when I arrived--boy was I wrong. :)

I have really missed the zanyiness, the randomness, the openness, and everything else from the con badges to the costumes to the late night raves. With so many people now coming, the energy of the place as a whole was definitely palpable. Special thanks to my roommates and other new friends like Dittman, Nodd, Mel, Seledrex, and Aquilla.

For the Green Fur Clan (I don't know what you call yourselvse lol), I am assuming  Natsufox is your photo-op leader, and the full res images of your shots are in the process of uploading as we speak. :) I also have 4K videos of the entire suit parade (over 1300 walking) and some rave clips that will be posting within the next week.

On a personal note, I have always been needlessly paranoid of going out with a con badge, let alone trying to wear a tail, for a fear of standing out, even at a con. It's silly, but I live in rural areas where it is not always easy to be yourself, and it can be hard to get out of that mindset for a weekend when you deal with it all other days of the year. Those who really know me will know what an enormous step it was to even buy a gigantic rat tail and wear it around, let alone take it out in public along with all my con badges. I was plenty nervous about it, but I was determined to really dive into this con after being absent for so long and I am glad that I could finally be comfortable enough to be "one of those furries" while exploring the wider area.

The closing ceremony was simply amazing, both spiritually and emotionally. For those who might not have heard, or have only heard bits and pieces, the charity for the year was called Save a Vet, and they rehabilitate retired service dogs for members of the military who need companion animals. It is a noble cause, but the main guy in charge was very much a Confederate Flag waving, 5 MPG truck driving, NASCAR and beer drinking conservative who goes to church every Sunday. When his staff approached him about the possibility of being the con's charity, he was against it from the start. He was very anti-gay, anti-furry, and felt that we would ruin his organization's reputation. His staff (whom MFF were in talks with I presume) convinced him to stick with us. This is all straight from the horse's mouth. But the amazing thing is that he changed. He admited all the hate he harbored, admitted he was wrong, and it was just such a moving experience to see someone who's world view had literally been upended in a weekend. And when the organization was $400 short of a $60,000 total donation, someone had the courage to ask how short and initated a walk-up where myself and many others dumped $2,400 cash right on the spot, bringing the whole panel to tears. That, along with a 20% boost in attendance, was a pretty powerful "Fuck You" to whoever was responbile for last year's misshap.

Then you had the couple you met through furry who proposed to each other on stage. I can't think of a better way to close a con and really encapsulate what furry is than that!

I am also starting to understand more personally how fursuiting works and why one would want to do it. Granted, I've wanted one for some time, but I am a hardcore realist; I have a very hard time suspending disbelief; I like detail. But I know that that is exactly what many people do when they hug a fursuit or want to get pictures taken with one: they aren't really hugging a person, they are hugging an anthro who is there, representing an idea many of us have always wanted to see and experience. The person and the costume are no longer mutually exclusive when combined. With that understanding, I'm probably not going to be going for a full suit or even a full partial, but there are some options that I am seriously considering.

So to everyone I saw at the con, whom I have known or do not know, thanks for all you do. :) An environment where you can wear a tail, costume, or even just a badge with nobody questioning why is a very powerful thing, even though each person's reason for being furry is different and some I agree with while plenty of others I do not.