Thread by @seananmcguire

On my way to Phoenix this past weekend, I finally had one of those level up experiences that seems like it'll be really fun but is actually sort of weird.

The people on my aisle and the aisle directly across the way were flying together. I got up to pee, and when I came back, I asked if they were on their way to the con. Amazed, the man said yes, and asked how I knew.

I replied, "You're reading a David Eddings book and she's wearing a Wonder Woman brooch, it seemed probable."

"Are you going to the con?"
"Yes, I'm one of the guests."

They didn't pursue, and so I went back to sleep while Keiino peacefully joiked in my ears.

When we landed, the man leaned over and asked my name, since we were all going to the same place. "I'm Seanan McGuire," I said. At which point, a woman in the row behind him went "YOU'RE SEANAN MCGUIRE?"

She had been reading INTO THE DROWNING DEEP on the plane. She wasn't on her way to the con (she and her family were taking a vacation to see the Grand Canyon; one of the boys kept asking, fearfully, "Are we in a desert now?')

She asked if she could get a picture with me once we were all off the plane.

And that's why an awkward selfie of me in my travel clothes, with airplane hair, will be showing up on a woman I don't know's social media in a week or so, when she gets back from the Grand Canyon.

Randomly recognized on a plane: seems like it'll be really cool, actually sort of awkward and weird.