In the early months of 2020, Coronavirus Covid-19 emerged as a global pandemic, killed hundreds of thousands of people in the US alone, and forced a national change-of-plans. In an effort to keep the virus from killing millions of people, large gatherings were illegalized. Naturally this meant an end to large conventions; notwithstanding my annual con FWA. I was nonplussed that I had to upend my entire vacation schedule for the year, but was grateful to be in the rare position of keeping my job, which wasn't true for many millions here in the states.

Somehow, in these darkest of days, a collective from Texas hammered out the logistics needed to host an entirely online furry con. As far as I'm aware, DownHomeFurCon is the first of its kind in the fandom. Just like a normal convention it had its own panels, artists and dealers, social spaces, and games. It was initially strange to go to a Texas con without actually leaving the house, but it turned out really well, and I actually had a good time (it probably helps that I took off work to attend). Granted, it's no replacement for FWA, but it had plenty of charm.

I don't know what the rest of 2020 holds. I'm hoping that things will be normal by Fall, when I plan to attend Anthro SouthEast; but I'm not very optimistic that it will be any safer to do so than it is now. As an essential employee, I even suspect I may be killed before then (which I'm perfectly fine with; I really don't want to see what happens next). Whatever the case may be, It's proven now that at-home cons can work, and that gives me a lot of hope. Come what may, the fandom will weather this. See y'all on the other side!

Art by  cutecumber
Coon is my character!