San Diego, July 18, 2019 – July 21, 2019 — SDCC 2019 felt like a turning point year, both for the convention and for me personally. In the wake of Avengers: Endgame, the overall energy of the con was more reflective than frantic. Fans weren’t just hyped for what was next. They were sitting with what had just ended, and that gave the entire week a quieter, more emotional undertone.
For me, SDCC 2019 also marked my first Comic-Con as a brand-new mom. I had given birth to twins in April, just a few months earlier, and I was still very much in the middle of recovering from the physical and emotional trauma of delivering two babies. My body didn’t feel like my own yet, and on top of that, I was nursing. That meant stepping away from panels, offsites, and everything Comic-Con offers every three hours to pump.
Staying at the Hard Rock Hotel was an absolute blessing. Being right in the Gaslamp meant I didn’t have to trek far when we were doing something onsite or nearby, which made those constant breaks manageable. Still, it was exhausting and, frankly, a huge pain. Comic-Con is not built for rest, and navigating it while postpartum and pumping felt like running a marathon on no sleep.
Then came the moment that still hurts to think about. All of the milk I pumped that week ended up spoiling because the hotel room refrigerator wasn’t cold enough. It was my first time being away from my babies, and I didn’t know yet to ask for storage in the hotel’s employee freezer. I carefully hand-carried gallons of that milk all the way back to Houston, only to realize once I got home that it had all gone bad.
For a mom who has to pump and supplement with formula, that loss was devastating. It felt like days of effort, discomfort, and emotional energy had vanished. It’s something I’ll honestly lament for a long, long time.
Looking back, SDCC 2019 wasn’t about chasing every panel or offsite. It was about showing up in a completely new version of myself and doing the best I could. It was slower, harder, and more emotional than any Comic-Con before it, but it also marked the beginning of learning how to balance the things I love with the life I had just created.
That being said, this year’s Con was still really great in its own way. I finally got to hang out with The Geeky Hooker for the first time and see all of her incredible critters in person before they were dropped. I also visited the Comic-Con Museum for the first time, which felt especially meaningful given the history tied to that year.
One of the wildest moments happened right outside our hotel room. Chris Hemsworth was on our floor, standing by the elevator. My SIL managed to snap a photo, but we were strictly told not to post it anywhere since his appearance at the Marvel panel was still a surprise. It felt like one of those “only at Comic-Con” moments.
Of course, we went to Conan’s show twice, which by now has officially become a Comic-Con tradition for me. I also caught a glimpse of George Takei, admired so much incredible cosplay throughout the weekend, and just soaked in the atmosphere as much as I could between pumping breaks and much-needed rest.
What made it even more special was the context. This was my 10th San Diego Comic-Con, and it also happened to be the 50th anniversary of SDCC. Even though it looked very different for me this year, it still reminded me why I keep coming back. Comic-Con has a way of meeting you exactly where you are in life, even when that version of you is brand new, exhausted, and still figuring things out.
