In 7th Heaven - My latest convention experience

For those of you who know me, I love Sci-Fi conventions. I have been attending since the early 1990's at local shows, but in the past three years my family has planned our vacations around these events, mainly in Orlando.

In late March, we found out that Michael Shanks (Stargate) would be attending a hotel-based convention in Tampa (Vulcan Events). As he is on our "dream list" to meet, we got excited and made our plans. The Celebrity Guest list was a Who's Who of some of our favorites: Tony Todd (best known at 'The Candyman", but he has been in hundreds of shows and he's always awesome!) Dean Stockwell, (Quantum Leap and more recently Cavil on the new BSG), Sally Kellerman, Gary Lockwood, Christopher Lloyd, Jennifer Lien (Kes, Voyager) and the amazing Catherine Hicks, (Star Trek IV, and of course, 7th Heaven).

Hotel-based conventions are special, because there are less attendees and you get to spend more time with the celebrities, and you can go back to your room in minutes if you need a quick break or forgot something to take downstairs. Last year, at the F/X show at the Orange County Convention Center, in all our excitement, we made a grave mistake and left all our stuff to be signed in the car. We had to go all the way back out to the parking lot in 90 degree weather, (it felt like walking a mile, and probably is close to being one).

When we got to our hotel last Saturday where the convention was being held, the parking lot was full and we had to park on the roof of the hotel's parking garage. My husband, Brad, who did not like the thought of making multiple trips to the roof to get our stuff, decided we would carry everything down at once, (several suitcases, our bags of food, ect). So, imagine our dismay as our two young children loaded down like pack mules, and ourselves as well, discovered that there was no elevator in the parking garage. We had to lug everything down four flights of stairs, (in 90 degree heat).

Hot, exhausted, sweaty and sticky we stumbled into the hotel's elevator and I asked the lady next to us to push, "Floor Two Please". Then I looked up - it was Sally Kellerman (the original "Hot Lips" Houlihan from the move M*A*S*H). I said in a weak voice, (Thank you, Ms. Kellerman). She smiled and waved hello to our two kids. I later thanked her again that afternoon when I got her autograph.

We were late for the day's events because I had promised our kids a day at the zoo, (quid pro quo for hanging out at the hotel the following day). I did get downstairs just in time to see Tony Todd's presentation, which was awesome. Afterwards, I spoke to him at his autograph table for ten minutes or so, (he took special time out for everyone).

That evening, for the first time ever I attended a Celebrity Banquet. My dear husband had promised to watch the kids and wished me a "wonderful time". Depending on your ticket number, you got to choose which celebrity you sat with. The table with Michael Shanks (Stargate) filled up first, but I decided I wanted to dine with Catherine Hicks. She was an amazing lady, really down to earth and a lot of fun. Her booking agent was with her, and he was great to talk to and had lots of fun stories. The gentleman, (Rich, I believe) who sat next to me was a really nice guy and we talked Sci-Fi and how he would not watch the new 'Riverworld' because he thought the first one was incredible and did not want to see the re-make, (I loved the new one). Our other table guests were really nice guys as well. Catherine Hicks told us how she grew up as an only child and it floored me --I told her that I had grew up as an only child also. She looked across the table at me and relayed some of her thoughts to me on it, and I nodded knowingly because I had experienced what she had experienced and felt many times the same way she did and had done some of the same things she had done. It was a special moment between us. Although many of the celebrities left early, Catherine Hicks stayed with us until the room started to clear out, and we all said our goodbyes for the evening.

The next day, I took my daughter down to have our photo with her, and as we left, Catherine Hicks called out to my daughter, "You have a cool Mom!" It really touched me that she did that. After I got my photos, I went over and thanked Ms. Hicks again for a memorable evening and wished her well.

What a special weekend it was - getting two photos done with the handsome Michael Shanks, my daughter meeting Christopher Lloyd and Catherine Hicks, (which she both thought were really nice). Meeting other convention attendees and talking about tv shows and movies. So incredible and over much too quickly.

Still, it is always nice to have something to look forward to, and I hope that in the Fall there will be another show, and another list of celebrities to meet. Enjoy life to the fullest! Until next time...