(with apologies to Laura Numeroff)
picture courtesy of AJC.com
Every year Dragon Con descends upon Atlanta. This is not a rogue meeting of twelve Dungeons and Dragons dudes. It is a huge, well coordinated event that draws thousands of people to parade down Peachtree in their most outrageous Sci-finery. There are zombie cheerleaders, the ubiquitous storm troopers and steampunks galore. Those people know how to let their freak flags fly!!
My friend Greg often posts pictures of the parade for us to gawk and laugh at enjoy. He gamely suggested that I join the parade this year in a zombified version of one of my old dance team outfits (a Scorpionette, thank you very much). He offered as incentive that I would probably have at least a hundred nerds hitting on me. I laughed him off but agreed that my white pleather knee high boots would be nerb bait indeed! The thought of the high embarrassment factor for my kids was weighing me in favor of this crazy idea slightly, but in the end I passed.
The creativity that goes into the costumes is amazing. Taking on an other-worldly persona is a full time job and the people who participate in Dragon Con take it very seriously. I spoke with one woman who starts planning a year ahead as it takes her about eight months to create her costume and ten months to save enough money for all the events. Her real life job is an attorney, but this weekend lets her leave behind the corporate world and have a little fun. Sure there are your share of weirdos, but for the most part, it’s just people wanting to unleash a creative side to the world.
I plan on heading to the parade with my kids next Fall, with camera in hand. I am fascinated by this idea although from an observer’s point of view, not a participant. Maybe I will throw those old marching boots in my trunk, just in case. I can picture an over forty, zombie, dance team mom on the front page of the AJC! A chance to embarrass my children like that only comes once in a lifetime. And if you give a nerd a wookie? It might just make me think…
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Tags: Atlanta, dance team, Dragon Con, embarrassing kids, mom, parade, parenting, Star Wars, Steampunk
How did I miss this post? I think in order to prepare for next year’s parade you should pull out those boots and scorpionette costume and where it while you pass out candy on Halloween. Baby steps, my friend, baby steps. Oh, and if you need anymore encouragement I will bring you a bottle or two of wine and cheer you on!