Since the Megaplex post, I talked about my bestie Kuda. I decided to post a story about my Alpha Maximillion—also my bestie, and someone very special to me because he has always been there for me and really helped me through a lot. I don’t want to go into too much detail simply because of the podcast episode coming out later this month. I definitely want to spend the first episode talking about the beginnings of our relationship and stuff. But I will start the dialogue here.
Rewind to TFF 2024. I had just gotten out of a true “mid-life crisis” and was, for a brief time, living with my mother. I was sitting at the computer one night after work when I saw a lot of people posting about TFF on Twitter. I had only been to TFF the previous year and really wanted to go back, but it was about a month away at that point and I didn’t have a room. So I reached out to the Twitterverse, and someone replied pretty quickly telling me about room space—enter Maximillion, stage right.
I had never spoken to him before; we didn’t know each other at all. But he offered a space in his king room in the main hotel, so I decided to roll with it. I paid him pretty quickly and booked my flights from there. I was going to TFF 2024! I was super excited, especially because it was a random con just weeks away that I hadn’t planned, and at that point in my life, I needed it badly.
I will always remember this day: TFF 2024, Wednesday. I landed in Dallas. I had spoken to Max previously about picking me up from the airport if possible, and he agreed. I grabbed my bags and met him outside the terminal. At first, just like meeting new people, it was awkward. But with my outgoing personality, I quickly cracked him and we got to talking like friends. We stopped at the liquor store on the way, then got back in the car aiming for the hotel, just talking about life.
Of course, that was the con with the baby billboard. Our room was directly facing the baby. We laughed our asses off and both called that it was going to be a highlight of the con—we were right.
You’ll have to catch the first episode of the podcast to hear more about our relationship and how it grew. He introduced me fully to the puppy fandom, and we have been very close ever since TFF 2024.
So here’s to you, Maximillion. I can’t believe our paths crossed when they did. I love you so much and am beyond happy that you’re in my life. Cheers, buddy!
