pyat

It was 11 years ago. Almost to the day. Something very special happened.

I just happened across the photo recording the event while scanning old pics for my big sister's upcoming wedding.

In September of 1997, I went on my first fandom-inspired roadtrip! I was at a friend's wedding, and we took a couple of days to drive around. We drove from Vancouver, B.C., to Seattle, WA, where I interviewed Steve Gallacci for Realms magazine. Later, this experience would be parlayed into a sideline career writing furry roleplaying games with

normanrafferty. Now I have more furry RPG writing credits than Paul Kidd! A questionable legacy, maybe, but one I treasure. ;) Of course, Kidd also wrote a bunch of D&D stuff, including novels. Yeah, I'm workin' on it.

Someday, Mr. Kidd, someday! Watch your back!

I recall describing Washington in my article as "like Endor after the Imperials moved in and built strip malls." Along the way we visited comic shops, game stores, used book stores and the like. My friend Dave introduced me to Art Bell's radio show late one night while we were driving his 1980 VW Rabbit through midnight mountains.

I have photos of Gallacci and photos of me wandering around in Vancouver, and later at a camp near Mount Rainier. The pics I just found aren't nearly as interesting.