I headed to PAX East a day early so I could get settled in,
get my media badge and know exactly where the hell I was going for opening
day. A 6 hour train ride and my luxurious chariot that was the Amtrak was
finally in Boston. The South Station was just a minute or so from my
hotel, so within minutes I was checked in (The
Intercontinental Boston is fantastic by the way) without issue.
Finally settled, it was time to venture out for procuring those badges with the Grey Area Podcast’s very
own lovely and talented Jenesee Grey. We got to the convention center
without a hitch, picked up my badge, got a little sneak preview of the con
floor, and went on our merry way. Next was the cab to pick up her badges
from the dude holding them for her. Again, no problems there.
Everything was going to plan and we were on schedule for some sushi at 8.
Unfortunately that’s when the universe decided that
everything was going TOO according to plan. In the next cab (the one
slated for said target sushi) my jacket felt a bit light when the cab
started. A little too light. About as light as it
would be without, oh I don’t know, a Droid RAZR MAXX in the pocket.
Yep. It was gone.
You’ve all seen those posters and shirts with the famous
British epithet “Keep Calm and Carry On?” This was roughly the exact
opposite of that. It was more like a t-shirt I saw once and almost bought
from Threadless. The crown upside down in distress, and instead of the
famous line was the appropriate “Now Panic and Freak Out.” That’s where I
was at. See these days a cell phone isn’t just something to make calls
on. A decent smartphone can be your life in a pocket. That was my
email, my social media, private accounts I alone access, my pictures and
videos, and a host of other information that no one but me should be seeing.
Granted, they’d need to figure out the pattern code an one of a number of
ridiculous passwords on rotation but still. There’s a feeling of
helplessness that strikes you when something like that happens. Oh and
the best part – I couldn’t remember my cab number.
Yes. I know. an absolute rookie
mistake I’ll never forgive myself for.
Thankfully, during my frantic near-episode searching the
snow banks on the side on the sidewalks in case it fell, Jenesee called the cab
company and spammed my phone number. With no response we figured that the
best play would be to just call Verizon Wireless to track it, and that’s when
someone answered. As it turned out phone was recovered by a group of
fellow PAX East goers who got the cab next, and after some searching were able
to find them at the bar they were chilling at. And what was it called?
The Green Dragon. That’s right, fellow
geeks in the city to get their PAX on picked it up, and were holding it for me
at a bar with the same name as those frequented by Shire-folk in the realm of
Middle Earth. They couldn’t unlock my pattern or couldn’t make any calls
from it but they still held on to it in case I got a call through. And
they didn’t have to. And I think that speaks to the type of community PAX
has created for gamers and their con-goers. I want to believe that fans
that descended upon Boston could imagine if it happened to them, and follow the
“don’t be a dick” attitude that we see in Penny Arcade’s strips and columns and
a lot of what they do.
And the absolute best part of the whole thing – I had to argue with
the dude that found it to at least buy him a beer for his help. Many
thanks to you sir, to PAX, and to nerd culture for averting a potential
disaster and horrible time at the convention.
Now then, to the fine folks we met at the Green Dragon, you
have my info, make sure you get at me!
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