Supernatural Conventions 2024 – Return to Seattle!

Seattle is a city full of memories – some of them wonderful, some of them not, and some of them bittersweet. As I flew into the city, I was thinking of my friend Krista, who we lost not long ago. I spent one of the most fun days ever with her and a group of other Supernatural fan friends in Seattle. Krista was our unofficial tour guide, taking us to the original Starbucks and demonstrating how to navigate the fish markets with her trademark finesse and sense of humor. And then we all returned to the con to indulge our mutual love of Supernatural.

Beautiful memories…but I miss her.

Some of my other really fun times in this city have been with my friend Alicia, who picked me up from the airport like old times. We hadn’t seen each other in WAY too long. We had lovely coffee and catch up chat time on another Starbucks patio, reminiscing about some of the best days of my life – the ones we spent on the Supernatural set, driving across the border after a con here in Seattle to spend the day sitting behind Bob Singer or Phil Sgriccia or whoever was directing, watching the boys film our favorite show and overcome with gratitude.

Again, beautiful memories…but I miss my friend and I miss my Show.

Then of course there was that memorable Supernatural con in Seattle that got cancelled after half a day by an unexpected snowstorm. Snowpocalypse made for an interesting Friday afternoon, especially because I also was coming down with a terrible cold. I was lucky to escape on one of the few flights that got out, back to the East coast but sad about missing the con.

This time went a lot more smoothly. (There were penguins to remind those of us who’d experienced it of Snowpocalypse though).

I caught some karaoke on Friday night, with some of my favorite people – Matt Cohen, Osric Chau, Adam Fergus, Julian Richings, Alaina Huffman and of course DJ Qualls.

It was like karaoke in the old days, with Adam Fergus dancing on chairs in the audience.

I missed most of the panels on Saturday since I was on my own in the vendor room, but this con was fresh off the series finale of Walker and Jared’s candid comments about the disappointing state of the network that was Supernatural’s home for so long, the CW.  Matt Cohen talked about how important those comments were in his panel.

Matt: From his position of success, it’s very important for a guy like him to use his voice and reflect exactly what’s going on in the industry.

He said that so many in their industry are in a crisis of not working, there’s the threat of AI, etc.

Matt: I want you to look up what Jared said and support our guy.

I love how they all support each other, then and now and always.

I did make sure to catch Misha Collins’ panel on Saturday – it’s one I never miss.

Misha had some memories of Seattle too, including the GISH French maid world record attempt with tons of people packed into a sweltering gym.

Misha: Eventually seven ambulances came because French maids were passing out, but people still held hands to break the record!

(Despite this, most of us who did GISH regularly still miss it lol!)

Misha has been quite active in politics recently, and said he’d just realized the debate tactic recently used (overwhelming with lies) is called “Gish gallop”!

He brought on stage a student who had selected him to interview as someone from Washington who’s had a positive impact for a school project – good job, Addy!

Someone asked what he was interested in at school.

Misha: I was a bit shy. I was always the new kid at school, so I would observe people a lot.

He said he was always getting hurt or injured on his birthday for some reason.

Misha: Shit, it’s about to be my 50th, I’d better be careful!

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Supernatural Seacon 2018!

 

Seattle con has always been one of my favorites. It’s just a short drive from Vancouver, so the cast is usually well rested and in a great mood – and it’s where some of my close friends live, so it means I get to visit them and hang out too. Add in the fact that some of my favorite fangirl buds were also here this year and that just makes it better. I had a vendor table with plenty of copies of Family Don’t End With Blood and our other books on Supernatural and fandom, right next to the lovely Kayla and Louden Swain, which was extra fun.

My friend Alana King of Youtube fame was also at the con, which meant time to hang out and some bonding time for the two of us whenever I accompanied Alana to anything that had to do with one Mr. Jared Padalecki. Alana had just completed a fundraiser for To Write Love On Her Arms and had a bound book of messages for Jared from all the contributors, which she had carefully handwritten. Needless to say, she was beyond nervous to give that to him, so I promised to come with her to tell him about the project and the awesome people who contributed. Alana had also agreed to get a photo op done for a fellow fan who couldn’t make it to the con, which involved Jared writing a message to her on a whiteboard – that was a lovely moment during which Jared said nice things to Alana and gave her a kiss on the forehead, which of course made Alana burst into tears. In the video blog on Alana’s channel, I’m the one doing all the reassuring smiling, but really I get all emotional too – I just hide it better!

I got to catch up with Megan Padalecki at this con too, who I haven’t chatted with in a little while and missed a lot. And of course the rest of the awesome people of the vendor squad, who are like a traveling group of artists bonded together around Supernatural – Jodi, Shelley, Scout, etc etc etc. I’m always in awe of your talents and proud to call you my friends.

Friday kicked off with Rob Benedict and Louden Swain holding down the fort while Richard Speight Jr. filmed, Rob wearing his “Frobday” shirt designed by Scout like 24 hours before and miraculously ready in shirt form for the con kickoff. Rob was rockin’ it.

And then there was the latest rendition of the Borja Borja series of shirts, this one featuring a swimming …naked…Borja. Though he insists that’s the body of a naked baby…

Rachel Miner was first up, and came onstage by means of the newly installed ramp, which thrilled her and all of us. It’s easy to forget how much of a difference it makes to be able to come and go on your own, and Rachel reminded us all, thanking Creation for making sure she could do just that.

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