/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

>First convention was in 2006-7
>RIght when Naruto/Full Metal Alchemist/Bleach/Death Note were all getting HUGE state-side
>Pretty much the dawn of the weaboo craze and the last few years of a Pre-Facebook/Twitter/Nu-YouTube internet
>My mom drops a few friends and I off there for the Saturday
>wearing a shitty Naruto cosplay I half-assed in a few weeks
>Was the most fun I'd ever had
>Genuinely felt thrilled and excited talking to people (I was like 15)
>Go back the next year, actually stay all weekend, best time of my life
>Saturday night dance was a masquerade/rave and filled with all sorts of trahsy 2000s techno, girls loaded with candi and glowsticks
>had a blast, so much fun, vow to never stop going
>Enter High school
>Con changes venues/show-runner to a more upscale hotel downtown
>keep going back, miss a year or two
>Keep this up for the past several years
>Go back Summer 2016
>The nostalgic joy I've attached these conventions and that era of my life to doesn't seem to be there
>cosplay still, but only recognize 20-30% of costumes I see
>walk around the convention floor for a few hours at a time, bored, going through the motions
>We end up drinking all weekend
>Saturday night "dance" is a shitty local DJ, 20 or so people, and some bad remixes to Disney songs and the Pokemon theme
>Will never experience the glory days of being a chubby fresh-faced tween carrying around my mom's digital camera and watching the seas of State Alchemist blue coats, shitty Inuyashas, half-assed Edward Elrics, Akatsuki members, etc walking by eating pocky and drinking ramune, glomping eachother
>Now half-assedly take pics on my camera of a few video-game characters while everyone walks around talking about YouTube celebs, Attack on Titans, and Deadpool.

Fuck bros...just take me back...please.