Minicon Trip Memories, First Set

[gerisullivan]

Thrifty Car Rental Counter, Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, Saturday, April 3rd: The sheer pleasure of not needing a map, followed by days of knowing where I was going without having to think about it. I know this won't last, that memory maps will be overwritten by new routes regularly driven. But, man, I sure appreciated it on this trip!

Parties, parties, Saturday, April 3rd and Sunday, April 4th: Two music parties within 24 hours of my arrival was *just* the way to re-immerse myself in the best of Minneapolis Fandom. Sheer luck and happenstance, or an early dose of Minicon Magic? Some of each, I expect.

Como Conservatory, Original Pancake House, and other destinations, Sunday, April 4th: A morning's outing transformed into a full day together with Gavi. Comfort, silliness, easy times. More, please. Soon. And again.

Nordstrom's, Mall of America, Thursday, April 8th: "Geri, going shoe-shopping with you is great. I know you'll never, ever buy the last pair of anything I want." Deb Geisler, after seeing me holding a pair of bright, multi-colored, striped rain boots and reaching for a pair of outrageous, sparkly, strappy party shoes. The boots fit burningriver; they didn't have my size. Just as well; I have a mortgage commitment. My Minicon treat this year was making a small contribution and thus becoming a patron of the arts, thanks to papersky and the conspiracy to gift pegkerr with the elisem necklace that suits her so well.

Millennium Lobby Bar, Friday, April 9th: Seeing Steve Brust for the first time and going over for a hello hug as I was on my way to Target to pick up waxed paper and aluminum foil for the sweet rolls. The utter, ordinary rightness and pleasure of seeing him, followed by a hug that just went on and on and on. Life has changed too much for each of us for such a meeting to be taken for granted anymore, and it was neat to discover that neither of us was inclined to do so.

Opening Ceremonies, Friday, April 9th: "Shiny! They're shiny!" Five thousand 1973 pennies, each one gleaming with uncirculated, mint in bag shine. Who knew?

Music Circle, Friday, April 9th into the wee hours of Saturday morning: Needed to be asleep hours ago, but staying around for one more time around the circle, one more song, and, oh, just another one or two. Food may be sleep; music isn't. But it's something richer and more comforting still. Minneapolis Music brought me into fandom as much as any person or three. It's my anchor, my grounding. And so I listen...to more.

Comments

Minicon Memories -- Neo-pennies

[(Anonymous)]

Five thousand uncirc. 1973 pennies? That should supply Mpls in '73 Parties for several years. And then there's always the Squished Penny Museum (in D.C.), which can do interesting things with (preferably high-copper-content) coins. (I think they charge something like $100 for the die, made to your design, then ten cents each for the ...errr... squished pennies, which might be more economical than buying your own Squishing Machine.
--Don Fitch, trying to figure out how this LiveJournal posting stuff works.