I was thinking of writing a long, sappy essay about how special this year’s Mephit Fur Meet truly was. But, I’m gonna write as I feel, so it won’t be short (and I’m also writing this while attending a Dodgers MLB Game in a crowded stadium with a distant relative from out of town, and Dodgers are winning BIG!!). As I look back at recent furry conventions I’ve attended (now that I’m becoming more of a pro by attending these events) it appears that the Magic was NOT coming from how LARGE a Furry Convention has to be to enjoy elite status - nor having popular furries hosting state of art panels, or the top notch musicianship each con brings - its THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND LOVE ALONGSIDE THOSE WHO MANAGE THE CON WITH GENUINE LOVE BECAUSE THEY CARE!! When Jose Pacheco “Toad” literally convinced me to come to MFM in 2018, I said “Sure” (MFM 2018 was planned before my Mom’s untimely death and it was my first vacation after Mom died, which helped me through the healing process). I arrived halfway on a Saturday and I was denied entry until Saturday night (I was quite pissed) and I missed a good part of the 2018 con. What saved me from a total bad con experience was my dear friends Tony Tenacious Kyle Hicks and Eddie Krech (who comforted me as I was still reeling from losing Mom and Eddie’s assistance in commissioning of Joe Bear’s fursuit). I made sure I wouldn’t judge MFM honestly until I attended the ENTIRE Convention, from Opening Ceremonies to Closing Ceremonies!! So, I was able to juggle my work vacation schedule to attend MFM 2019 in its entirety. I’m very glad I did, as I became a believer of why people would come from near and far to attend and praise such a small furry convention (#42 according to WikiFur, versus #3 for Biggest Little Furry Convention and #6 for Further Confusion). IT WAS THESE PEOPLE WHO MADE IT VERY, VERY SPECIAL FOR ME, FROM THE CON LEADERSHIP INCLUDING THE STAFF, TO THE ATTENDEES AND MY OWN FRIENDS THAT MADE IT SO MEMORABLE!! Thank you Papa Woof Roth, Mike Wielder, Waldolf Ursine “BJ”, Papa Rob, Abra Floyd “Paddlefoot” and her Mom “Panda Mom”, Josh Smeltzer “Jase Husky”, Buck Daniel Riley “Buck Husky” (He’s A Great Guitarist and fellow BIG Death Cab for Cutie fanatic too), Trevor Rush, Jared Clark and Iain James Armour that comprise Foxes & Peppers, Christopher Leavy “Cosmik” and Ned Wilkinson “Rhubarb”, and Victoria Staley to the new friends i made in 2019 including Logan Sweeney, James Thompson (Keanu The Red Panda ), Bryon Parham, Dahan Chanur among others. If I forgot yer name, please remind me. THIS IS THE FAMILY IM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING AGAIN IN 2020!!! This will be an annual tradition unless my health fails or my work situation changes. As a young cub, I grew up watching The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon - I would watch for hours as it was something I looked forward to on Labor Day weekend. 40 years later, I have started on a NEW FURRY Labor Day tradition. Joe Bear will be near Memphis, TN if God Allows. Peace - Joseph Goria (a.k.a. Joe G Bear)