A few months ago, I went to a 70s/80s-themed convention with my mom to meet her all-time idol, Kristy McNichol. I never thought I would go to another, but over a week ago I did in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specifically the Steel City Con, and I had an even bigger blast than I had the first time around!
See also: I Went To An 80s Themed Convention With My Mom, And I Actually Had A Blast
For the record, my dad also came along, but only to give directions and help us get there and the nearby hotel. He didn't have a ticket to the convention, which was a shame because this was made for him, as well, but he was fine with it, and we told him all about it afterward!
The reasoning behind going to this one was the same as the last one: to see Kristy. My mom will never seem to get enough of scoping out all the venues and seizing every possible chance of meeting and talking with her as well as getting more stuff signed and taking more pictures (including the one used for this article's cover photo).
Only this time, Kristy's costar in her movie "Little Darlings," Tatum O'Neal, was also going to be there, so my mom knew that this was going to be a legendary trip.
There was also going to be a Q&A panel for "Little Darlings," the big reason why Mom wanted to go, but Kristy decided last-minute not to do it (the reason was unclear), and because she couldn't do it, Tatum stepped out as well, but Tatum did sign a few things and answered a few questions for us.
Even with the "Little Darlings" panel canceled, it didn't defer my mom from enjoying her time with her childhood idol (who actually remembered us from the last convention), making this her highlight of the trip, though that by itself wasn't mine…
Speaking of Q&A panels, did I mention that we saw one for "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"?
Yes, you read that right! There was a Q&A for "Fresh Prince"! The panelists were the actresses who played Vivian, Hilary, and Ashley Banks, and they answered the crowd's questions, talking about their own experiences and fond memories, both on and off the show. That whole hour was one I will always cherish and would count as one of my top five highlights, yet it still isn't the main reason why I had a phenomenal time.
As an added note, we also happened to catch most of the Q&A panel for Jaleel White, who played Urkel on "Family Matters," which was great to sit in on, as well! To be honest, we actually weren't huge fans of the show and didn't watch much of it, but the panel was still very entertaining to see.
Now, here's a huge highlight that I'll never forget: the selections that were there on the tables and booths were incredible! All of the things set out on the tables, things that I thought I would never see at an event like this, things that seemed to call out to me the moment my eyes laid upon them…
I was mesmerized by nostalgia meant for me at a convention mainly meant for my mom.
Hallmark ornaments from previous years to add to our already growing collection (we're "Platinum"-level on our Hallmark account), fanmade posters, pictures, and crafts of my favorite shows, movies, and other pastimes (even for "Star vs."), leftover toys and collectibles that you would think would be long-forgotten (I got both Snuggle and Babe plushies), and many, many more. Almost all of them were discounted!
Also, if you pay five dollars for a regular-sized cup of soda there, you get free refills for the rest of the day, which I did for two days!
So, here it is: I had a bigger blast here, not because of Kristy (though it was amazing to see her again), not because of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" panel (though that was awesome), and not just because of all the things I got to buy (and low-key barter for) and wish that this kind of stuff would carry over from one convention to the next in a never-ending loop (which I think it does). It is because of all of those things combined, the overall experience of what it truly feels like to geek out shamelessly at a convention.
Now I know how Comic-Conners must feel!
Before this year, I had no idea what conventions like these were like, but now that I've been to two, sign me up for the next one! Here's something I hope to say one day next year: Comic-Con, here I come!
Even if I have to wait a few months for the next one, even if the tickets cost an insane price, even if I have to scrape together just enough, I'll find a way to find a spot in this haven! It's not all about the celebrities you meet, the questions you want answered, or the things you buy. It's the experience of it all that's worth the price, and more.
