Sometimes you just need a hug

I survived Comic Con 2010. There should be badges or buttons or firework displays for this. From riding the train to standing in hour long lines to shouldering your way through crowds, the experience was sometimes overwhelming.

But it was always fun. And I honestly never heard one person complain. It didn't matter how long we had to wait to get in to a panel--whether we had to stand in the hot sun or whether the restroom was on the other end of a fathomless hallway--everyone was patient, everyone was courteous, everyone was super-human awesome.


Even the super heroes, themselves. And you know, they had crimes to stop, bad guys to catch. Still, everyone swathed in fur and polyester and latex remained calm. All it took was a polite, "May I take your photo?" and they would stop what they were doing and pose.

Although they did always remain in character.


Like these guys from The Event. Couldn't get them to crack a smile, no matter how hard we tried.

Even on the train.


We were crammed in like sardines, animals and humans and creatures from other planets, elbow to elbow. Still, we all kept our cool. Even when my 11:00 p.m. train stalled three times, making the ride back to Fashion Valley take an hour instead of ten minutes. Even when the train signs were written in Klingon.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a time when the nerds of the universe (and, yes, I AM one of them) were the coolest guys on the planet.

I can't wait to go again next year.