Family & Friends

Cleia,

You were the first person at Gen Con I talked to at length. Thank you for your passion

and love of building with cards. It seems like such a simple thing, but I now understand

why Cardhalla exists and its importance to Gen Con.

To think, perhaps you never would have begun building with cards if your family hadn’t

left you behind on your first visit. Three years and tens of thousands of cards later you

are still making friends through a wonderfully caring event. I can only hope that when

I return next year I will find you there at the entrance, building yet another titanic card

sculpture.

Shane, Michelle, Caden, Ronan,

You are the spitting image of families at Gen Con. When I stopped Michelle to talk I

was shocked to see her relaxed acceptance that her children would continue on their own

without a word from their mother. After learning that they have grown up with Gen Con

as a yearly event I now know. They are home here, just as all other gamers are.

Your excitement and joy at others experiencing your games is obvious and intoxicating.

It’s clear that your yearly pilgrimage is not just about business, but a true love for a

person’s enjoyment of games.

Ryan,

Thank you so much for your time. I now feel as though I see a side of the vendors

I hadn’t understood before. Product and the dissemination of information is surely

important, but your story of shocking and entertaining gamers through Gleemax’s voice

is one I will always associate with the spirit of Gen Con.

I’m incredibly happy to see that you’ve made it back to Gen Con with the freedom to

enjoy games and explore after so many years of being a company man. You have shown

me both are a great experience, and I am glad you have the best of both worlds this year.

Jessica,

Thank you so much for your conversations. Your enthusiasm and passion for the art and

spirit of Gen Con were clearly evident, and they have infected me. I cannot forget that

Gen Con is a family, and we must support one another.

To see someone with such skill - and having never studied art in an institution - is an

amazing inspiration to thousands of others who could one day follow in your footsteps.

To think, six years ago you were attending Gen Con as a first time visitor, and a few short

years later you are one of the amazing artists exhibited in the hall!

Lissa,

Thank you for your time and kindness. Again and again I am confronted with open and

warming personalities willing to share a few moments of their time or a story. To face

such positive forces as a first-time attendee is a powerful experience.

Perhaps you are not a normal cosplayer in that you do it to advertise, but I believe it to

be the same. You have shown others that to be different, yet remaining outgoing and

compassionate, is a wonderful thing.

Mike,

We miss you here at Gathering Magic, but it is clear you are doing well. You convinced

me to come and told me of the amazing gems Gen Con holds, and you were not wrong.

Gen Con is truly the “Super Bowl of games.”

Your three years are not much larger than my one, but your wisdom is far greater. The

opportunity to meet so many old friends and colleagues is such a strong pull toward

attending year after year. Now that I’ve begun, I cannot bear the thought of missing next

year, for it would mean abandoning a family I have come to love.

To all,

Thank you for making Gen Con what it is, and being so willing to accept another member

into your family. The only wish I have is that all gamers could experience the community

and joy of Gen Con.

With love,

Brendan