NaPoWriMo 2016 Day 3

Jonathan Frakes Phoenix ComiCon

Fan Girl

Fan
girl
over
old actor
not seen in Teen Beat
no pullout poster hung on my
wall because he was not a Corey or Backstreet Boy
sixteenth birthday gift tickets to
Star Trek convention
Wil Wheaton
my first
crush…
Frakes

I am not calling Jonathan Frakes old, but he wasn’t a teen idol in the late ’80s early 90s. My twin sister and I talked our mom into buying four tickets to a Star Trek convention in Buffalo, NY because it was on our 16th birthday November 17th. Kati actually stood in line to meet Wil Wheaton. I was excited to be at my first convention, but bummed Frakes was not there.

In 1994, my wonderful fiance drove us up to Toronto for my second Star Trek convention. I was a working girl then and splurged to get VIP tickets to see both Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis up close. Then life happened and I didn’t go to any kind of geek gathering until Twilight. Rachael was in middle school and Twilight was a big deal and there was a convention close by at the Wigwam. Of course I had to introduce my daughter to conventions. Well anyone who reads this blog knows it was all down hill from there. A few years later I saw Jonathan Frakes was attending the Phoenix ComiCon. Of course we got tickets. Back then 12 and under sidekicks were free. We only had to buy two tickets.

A couple years ago we attended again. Gretchen had to see John Barrowman. The lucky girl even met him and got his autograph. Then last year we attended Leprecon so I could fan girl over Star Trek authors. I already got tickets to Phoenix ComiCon this June. Rachael is working on her Attack on Titan cosplay. Yes, this fan girl has created a fan family.

NaPoWriMo Prompt – Yesterday, we wrote portraits of families. Today, let’s turn our vision outward, and write fan letters. I challenge you to write a poem in the form of a fan letter to a celebrity. Now, this could be a celebrity from long ago, and needn’t be an actor or singer (though it could be). You could write to George Washington or Dorothy Dandridge, Marie Curie or The Weeknd. Happy writing!

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Sabots – Haiku

Fear obsolescence
Machines yield higher profits
Sabots create hope

 

#haikuchallenge on twitter was to use the word hope.  The weekly poetry prompt on Writer’s Digest is industry.  Here is how my mind works.  I was thinking of being a book girl because of Monday’s #litchat on twitter.  You know, John Barrowman and his sister, Carole, are writing a book series for middle schoolers.  I learned about it at their table at Phoenix ComiCon.  They had copies there for sale.  I wanted to read up more on the books before buying one.  But now I think I am a bigger fan of Carole Barrowman than John.  I think it’s great John and Carole are working together.

I talked about my book girls on Monday then I mentioned how Rachael’s history teacher gave her class Star Trek notes the last day of school.  She messaged me pictures of the notes.

Rachael knew the name of the first warp 5 starship.

 

Of course I had to show the notes off and Rachael asked her teacher if he knew who Dayton Ward was because her mom just showed him your notes.  She told me her teacher sat in his chair; grabbed her phone to see if his notes really were seen by Dayton Ward; and then he giggled like a school “girl” (my daughter’s words).  When Rachael got home from her last day of school, we had to watch Star Trek VI.  She’s only seen up to IV with the original cast.  And any Trekkie knows the word sabotage is explained in the movie.  Then a couple weeks ago, my husband said he was talking about sabots and no one knew what he meant.  I asked Rachael if she knew.  Oh yeah, it was in a movie we watched recently.  HA! the girl didn’t even remember it was a Star Trek movie!

 

 

And yes, all these things were floating through my head while I wrote this haiku.

Weekend – Phoenix ComiCon Fun

Ok because of past experience (waiting in lines for everything) at the last con we attended in Phoenix.  Yes, even after we picked up our tickets there was more waiting.  We went upstairs to attend some panels.  When we came back down stairs, there was a line to get into the exhibitors hall because the fire marshall said there were too many people inside.  This year we left the house early.  Registration to get your tickets was in the south building.  Smart move.  We got there around 9AM and there was no line.  However most of the activities didn’t begin until 10AM.  We went down to the exhibitors hall to wait.  Mom took this time to look through the schedule.  The Little One took this time to complain.

I thought she’d be happy we avoided one line already.  I really was not looking forward to the John Barrowman line.  Everyone wants to see the actors.  In fact where we were waiting outside the exhibitors hall was closest to the actors’ tables.  And it was getting crowded already.  My hubby went off to take pictures and realized the other end of the hall wasn’t as crowded.  He came and picked us up.  We entered the hall on the opposite side of the actor tables.

The two older girls (my oldest daughter and a friend) were enjoying looking around the exhibitor tables.  The Little One had one thing on her mind, John Barrowman.  We stopped at a table selling autographed photos (good grief!) the guy asked me if I saw anything I liked.  You know a few years ago I picked up an autographed photo of Jonathan Frakes for less than half the price he had posted.  I told him I saw a lot of nice photos but the prices were a little rich.  He went into this rant about needing to make a living.  Hey, I totally understand that but…

The Little One saw an autographed photo of John Barrowman with a note – He’s here, but if you don’t want to wait.  I realized, yeah someone isn’t waiting any longer.  Hubby and I talked and I told him, I’ll take Gretchen off to see John Barrowman while he and the other girls perused more sellers tables.  Off we went.  Over by the actors tables there was a huge line.  I hoped it wasn’t the one we were looking for.  There was a security guy there and I asked him where John Barrowman was, he pointed me down the row. Phew.  We walked down the row and didn’t see his name.  Gretchen was getting worried the Con lied about Barrowman being there.  I assured her they wouldn’t do that.  We started walking up the next row and Viola! And you know what, there were maybe 10 people ahead of us in line.  The line was a little catawampus and I didn’t want to cut in front of anyone.  I asked where the line ended and was pointed to the last person in line.  Gretchen was nervous because she didn’t have anything for John Barrowman to sign.  A lot of people in line told her not to worry, you can buy a picture.  Then a volunteer staff person came up and asked if we had any questions.  No if we want the autographed personalized, she had a post-it to fill out.  Of course, if you are going to meet the person in person the autograph should be personalized.

This is where I want to thank the Phoenix ComiCon for having great staff.  Gretchen did not want to fill out the post-it.  Let’s face it, Mom had her purse, camera and a couple of bags already and only one good hand.  I asked the volunteer if she would fill out the post-it and she said no problem.  Then I had to spell Gretchen’s name; she wouldn’t even do that.  I asked her if she forgot how to spell her own name.  The volunteer said, Oh she’s just being shy.  Great personality and thanks for helping me out.  Post-it note in hand we walk up to the table. There were plenty of photos to choose from.  I would have had a hard time, but Gretchen picked one out quickly had it in hand while I paid.  Then she was standing in front of John Barrowman.  I don’t even remember if she said anything to him.  But the look on her face.  She was one happy fan girl.

 

 

Don’t you know I’d snap the photo just as he was looking up.

Gretchen standing outside the TARDIS, holding her prize.

After we met John Barrowman, Gretchen told me it took everything she had not to go all fan girl on him. 😉 I said, well you didn’t pinch him. She has been telling me for a while she was going to pinch him to make sure he was real. Precious autograph in hand, Gretchen’s day was complete and she was ready to go home – 11:30AM. Yeah, no little girl. There’s more the rest of us want to do. But we did meet up with the rest of the gang and stop for lunch.