I've been sort of afraid to say anything but

[commodorified]

Since I'm half-packed and we're leaving in less than 24 hours it's probably time to announce that I am coming to WisCon. (Now watch me wake up tomorrow with Lorayne's cold or something.)

I'm not signed up for any panels, I'm not volunteering this year. I'm not 100 percent sure that this isn't going to end in disaster again. Depending on how I react to the various allergens in Madison I may be very low-energy, I may be sneezy and stuffed-up, I may be spending a lot of time asleep, I may be slow and forgetful due to being low oxygen, I may recuse myself rapidly from controversy or trouble if I don't see an immediate way to be useful.

I may have to leave panels abruptly due to coughing fits. We may be leaving town abruptly to get me back to Canada for treatment. (My out-of-province insurance isn't going to cover me for another serious asthma event in the same damn' city as the last one. That's kind of the definition of 'pre-existing'). We have a plan for this. It's as solid as we can make it.

Or we may have trouble at the border and not get there at all.

Or it all may be just fine. I really don't know. There's no way to tell.

But I'm on a new med (Singulair), and taking ALL the other ones, religiously, and so far my lungs seem to be willing to stay fairly functional. I'm bringing my bike. I'm hoping to stay an extra week and see friends. I'm cautiously optomistic.

A small request: if you see me, and we're friends, and you possibly can, grab me for coffee or food or a quick chat? This is almost certainly my last WisCon for some time, and if I do have a dangerous reaction, it's my last WisCon, period.

I know that I've lost touch with a lot of you due to missing the con and generally being offline and preoccupied trying to get my health under control. I'm sorry about it, and I'd really like to connect this weekend if we can, because you all are one of the communities of my heart, and to be honest I'm coming much more for y'all than for the "official" con.

If you or someone near you is wearing scent, I may have to back away rapidly. I'm sorry.

I'm not really accustomed to being a fragile little flower, you know? I'm still working out how to handle it.

Also, if there's a volunteer task I can do, something you need help with, that you can grab me for on the spot, please do. It's hard to contribute meaningfully when you can't make any promises, and I'll appreciate any chances to do so.

Comments

[welcomingsong]

I'm so glad you're probably going to be able to make it! I know I'm not the people you're missing from Wiscon, but it will be lovely to see you.

[jesse_the_k]

I look forward to seeing you. It's raining today, which will wash some of the crud out of the air.

In my experience, not being able to breathe is both physically and emotionally hard; feeling like a panic attack is SCARY.

So, be kind to yourself, I always travel with an extra filter mask, if needed.

[leecetheartist]

Have a super time!

[ckd]

I hope to see you, and if I do will happily grab you for a chat assuming logistics permit.

[graydon]

May no ill thing arise!

[kalmn]

My family is pretty close to scent free (other than shampoo). If you are up for two seven year olds, I would love to do a meal at some point with the family, or if you are not, I will buy you a drink post-kid-bedtime.

[commodorified]

I would adore to see you all. At worst, I'll have to see if they want to play Monster At The End Of The Book with me in the iPad instead of something more active.

<3

[dagibbs]

I wish that you may have a most-excellent Wiscon.

[crayonbeam]

you're handling all of this better than I could ever hope to

[commodorified]

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[ironphoenix]

Safe travels and hugs... I hope all goes well!

[watervole]

I'm finding more and more people affected by scent problems (including myself.) I can't go into shops with perfume blowers.

[transcendancing]

*loves* I still dearly hope to get to Wiscon at all sometime. I hope you have a really lovely time there and that your health is kind to you for the duration <3