Confessions of a Hugo Slut
Yes, I never expected to get off my seat. I mean, Gaiman was in the category with Tim and Ben. I had both their speeches, but it was just a formality.

When Tim's name was called by Pat Cadigan, I didn't quite get it. Bill looked at me and cried, "Tim!" I kept thinking, Tim better get up and give his speech. Then I remembered I was supposed to give it!

So I stood, gripping Tim's, Ben's, and my speeches. (Don't ask me why I took them all.) We were center stage, so I had to walk the distance all the way to stage right. The spotlights were blazing even as I walked. I climbed the stage and immediately had a moment of panic. My voice cracked. Or it seemed to.

I introduced myself, waited for the translation and then read Tim's speech line by line, pausing after each sentence for a translation. I was shaking and sweating, but everyone assured me it wasn't apparent. The crowd applauded, and that was the end of my sharing the stage with George Takei.

After the ceremony, I had the option of dropping the Hugo into its package or keeping it. I kept it! As I walked to the losers party, a group of Japanese fans surrounded me and started applauding! This was my first inkling of what it was going to be like all night. Laura claimed I blushed. Probably, but I pleaded the heat.

I hung at the losers party for a while, then made the rounds of the party floor. From the moment I stepped onto the hotel site, I was surrounded by fans. I must have had my picture taken 100 times with Tim's Hugo. I was sung "Congratulations, Dear Hugo" (to the tune of Happy Birthday). I was offered beer and drinks everywhere. People stroked Tim's Hugo repeatedly. It was an amazing experience!

This may be the closest I ever come to being a rock star.



Thanks, Tim. ;)

Paul