Reporting from PantheaCon 2015
The Doubletree by Hilton is eerily deserted the morning
before the official start of PantheaCon, a gathering of 2000 pagans. Up since
5AM and operating on 4 hours sleep, I am grateful the only witnesses to my
inglorious trip over the front curb are four uniformed bellboys and the
distressed Super Shuttle driver.
Bruised and knee skinned, I stagger to the reception area
where a petite (shorter than me!) young woman hands me a fresh from the oven
chocolate chip cookie. My mood improves exponentially. I jokingly warn her of
the onslaught to come. Her tattooed eyebrows arch in alarm and her gaze darts
to the nearest exit. This will be her first PantheaCon. Perhaps her last.
Still shaky after an hour nap, I take the hamburger cure at Spencers' - totally worth the $19.97
(with tip). Two businesswomen at the next table stress through their power
lunch. One keeps saying, “I hear you.” It takes me a while to figure out she is
not the one in the power seat.
By 3PM the ground floor begins to fill with doublewide
women, earring bedecked men, and toddlers in cowgirl boots and tutus. By
tomorrow’s opening ritual, neo-Vikings swishing animal tails, Goth teens,
silver-haired witches of both sexes, mambos, Merlins, and druids will cram the
ballrooms, elevators, and Sprigs restaurant.
The tribes and covens are gathering.
My Teen Wytche Saga badge ribbons await.
Copyright 2015
by Ariella Moon
