One really important aspect of being a guest of honor at a science fiction con has nothing to do with the Con itself. It’s making sure the world turns. Luckily, most Cons happen over the weekend and so for most of us the worst that happens is you might lose a Friday of work or be really tired on Monday. Even so, whether you are an author, artist, or guest you still need to make sure that everything is pre-set… especially if you’re going to an out of town Con.
My Con, Geek Mob 2017, took place in Roanoke (There’s something pretty awesome about an SF Con being set in a place named for America’s lost colony. It’s like doing an event in Atlantis.) It’s about a four hour drive from home and so in addition to making sure that my work life won’t go off the rails I need to make sure everything else will be fine too. For me, that means heading over to my parents’ place to do a load of laundry, cook a multi-meal dish, etc. Luckily, both my parents are still in good shape. They can move around and they’re sharper than most people decades younger. That means even if I shirked, everything would be okay. Still, it’s good to have peace of mind.
