Last night we had “story time,” which isn’t really something we’ve done at JadeCon before, at least not in a formal capacity. Since this is our tenth anniversary (!) and not all of us have been involved the entire ten years, we kind of did a “sit around the campfire and pass on the collective wisdom.” If by “wisdom” you mean “insanity,” that is. Some highlights:
1996 Chicago and then GenCon: OMG, there are other professional women who are fans of Star Wars and don’t really care whether a Star Destroyer could beat the Enterprise!
1997, calls to 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilm to change the release date of ROTJ:SE so that we could still see all three movies when we gathered together in Vegas. Got invited to a press screening that was moved back by one day so we could come. Met Timothy Zahn for the first time.
1998, the Smithsonian visit in DC. Jessa’s Bar makes its debut. We met Dak, who wore a button informing us “I’m Dead.”
1999, the prequels, and The Wedding. Marrying off cardboard standups of Luke and Mara in a real Las Vegas wedding chapel by a real Elvis impersonator. Yes, we scared him. Luke and Mara got locked in the bathroom at the reception when we left.
2000 was the first time GenCon was our main JadeCon. Orphans of the Suncrusher Auction. A funeral procession for Chewbacca around the second floor of the Hyatt Milwaukee and Anthony Daniels conducted us in providing a chorale accompaniment of “Duel of the Fates” while the Karrdes dueled on the skywalk between the Hyatt and the convention center at 1 am. “This floor’s not entirely stable!”
2001 was a baby shower for little Ben Skywalker and the Jedi Temple picnic (of Death!) crashed by the Sith. It was our last official JadeCon in Milwaukee, although many of us returned for the last Milwaukee GC in 2002.
2002 we were back in Vegas for AOTC. Tarts and Jedi (think Tarts and Vicars. If you’ve seen Bridget Jones Diaries you know what I mean.)
2003 was the first Indy GenCon. Podracing was appropriate for our first year in this racing city. :) We shaved Rogue’s head. Because we could.
2004 was the Galactic Games. We were rained out of the park and somehow thought it would be a good idea to light sparklers in the rain under a pavilion. After we were all treated for smoke inhalation we rethought that plan.
2005 was ROTS. Mini-cons for the actual movie, then Indy for the Hoth Winter Games. We broke Aaron at the ice rink (which was kinda more slushy than actually icy) and I got to meet one of the Lone Gunmen and tell him about the Lone Gunbabies. :)
Ten years. It’s hard to believe. Here’s to ten more. And then some.