#nerdhq

#nerdhq #supernaturalthursday #thursday #supernatural #supernaturalconventions

#crowley #marksheppard

#samwinchester #jaredpadalecki

#deanwinchester #jensenackles

#castiel #mishacollins

" That one time in 2016 at thenerdmachine when MisElizaJane requested a photo with the lowly photobooth operator/volunteer (me) and afterwards claimed it was in fact her favorite photo of the bunch. Her words. I swear! 🙈😜 She helped raise so much $ for operationsmile 🎉 " @actorscsm

(the specifics of this one by request after including it in my ‘haven’t they said it??’ post)

Jensen is backstage, and Jared has just mentioned that he brought a friend with him.

“-wait, like a friend with benefits?”

Jared: “There...may be some benefits...”

I mean...guys...

(original date: 22 July 2017)

Two years ago, in July 2015, I wrote a blog post about Zac with this title. After watching half of that years panels and spending the rest of the weekend working at a teenager weekend of our church, I wrote this post. It had struck me again just how different Zac is from most "celebrities".

One year later, the message of that post was still full of truth. My thoughts on Zac hadn't changed one bit. They only got better. After only one day at SDCC, I tweeted out that blog post again, because it became more relevant than ever, since I finally made it to San Diego and had just met Zac for the first time ever. So I tweeted it out again, and two days later, on Saturday, I found myself standing in line for something I wasn't sure about, which then turned out to be a photo-op with Zac. I wasn't gonna say no to another opportunity to get a picture with my role model. Keep in mind, it was Saturday. Zac had already hosted a shit ton of panels, danced his ass off at the Dance Party on Thursday and probably on Friday as well with his more famous friends than us. His voice was gone. So I walked up to the space, stood next to him, and basically lost my shit, internally. He once again proved just how wonderful he is. Standing there he told me that he had seen my tweet with the post and read it. That alone basically knocked me out of my shoes. But then he went on and said that what I wrote, meant a lot to him. We then took the picture and I am to this day still surprised that I smile in it and am not tearing up. Which I did right after. I went to the restroom and cried. Just imagine what that does to you. The guy you most admire in the world, the guy who is your role model in faith, work and life in general, that guy telling you that words YOU wrote meant a lot to him? That fucking knocks you out of the park. Like, I was floored. Knowing that this post touched him? It means everything. Knowing that my words reached him means that whatever the hell I end up doing in life, will mean something to someone. And that's all I ever wanted. Everything that I strive for professionally, is being able to give back. He showed me that I can, that I am already giving back.

After a lot of back and forth with myself (and my bank account) I finally booked my flight and hotel for San Diego last February. I knew it was not gonna be easy, and honestly looking at it now, financially, I shouldn't have done it. But after everything that I experienced last year, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go again. I promised myself that first day of NerdHQ last year that, if anyhow possible, I would never miss NerdHQ ever again, if I could help it. So now I'm here. And it has been the best three days so far. Again, one of the big reasons —beside my incredible nerd family that I have finally had the good fortune of meeting this week— is Zachary Levi. The Dance Party on Thursday was so amazing and it really felt like NerdHQ was still happening. It was an incredible night, I had a fucking blast, and I love every memory I have about it. Tonight, Zac one-upped it once again. The taping of SYFY Live from Comic-Con was amazing and great fun (even if my feet died like three times during it). After that, we headed over to the Hyatt for the auction. Honestly, it felt like coming home. It felt just like making my first steps into NerdHQ the year before. It felt so right. From the volunteers wearing the blue shirts, to Papa D hanging out in the background, to Dave Coleman being his awesome self, to Shekinah being the Queen Bee of Auction Items, to Zac. It was perfect. It really felt like NerdHQ. So much generosity was shown tonight. So much money came together for Op Smile. Nerding at its best.

Once again, Zac was just amazing. I lined up for a picture with him, because really, would I ever miss out on a picture with him? Hell no. Give me all the pictures. But, as usual, there's more to that picture than just a picture. In 2015, I discovered The Giving Keys through Zac. Naturally, I immediately bought one. A) because I love keys and necklaces and b) because I need reminders like crazy. That year, I got a key that said 'pray'. I had decided on that word because it was the one reminder that I needed the most at the time. I prayed from time to time, but I still always wanted go fight on my own. I was bad at asking God for help in difficult situations. Really bad. So I got this key, and everytime I ran into difficult situations, I felt that small weight around my neck and was reminded that all I had to do was pray. Every time my friends were having a hard time and I was frustrated that I couldn't do more to help them, I would look down at myself and see that word, and I would pray. I started subconsciously touching it or taking it in my hands in situations where I needed prayer or God's help. I started holding onto it while praying. The key did its job wonderfully and after a bit more than a year, I started feeling like I should give it to someone else. But I wanted it to be right. I wanted it to go to someone who would understand the meaning of it and appreciate it the way I did. Someone who would get it. I had a few moments where I thought yes maybe this person, but I was never convinced. I started wanting to get another key with a new reminder, but I was SO determined to give my first key away before I bought a new one. It didn't work out. At the beginning of May I finally caved and ordered my second key. It arrived on May 8th. On May 12th, FOUR DAYS LATER, NerdHQ put up the announcement video that the event would not be happening this year. I watched Zac struggle through that message, and then it clicked. It finally clicked. I knew with all my heart that Zac was the one person who would understand the meaning behind this key, the one person who could appreciate it the way I did, the one person who this key was meant for. The next day I sat down and wrote a letter and I wanted to send it to him immediately. Anxiety that the key would get lost in the whole madness that is overseas travel and post offices, stopped me. I decided that I would take it with me to San Diego and, should the opportunity arise, give him the key personally. If not, I printed the letter out and would just put it in the mail here.

I am so eternally glad that I made this decision to take it with me, because now it is in the hands —or better around the neck— of the person it rightfully belongs to. After we took the pictures (the silly one is perfect and I love you so much for it, Zac), I told him that I had something to give him, but it came with a backstory. He was okay with me telling it right now, so I did. I missed out on a lot of details that I mentioned now, because I was really nervous for some reason and I felt like all I did was stutter. But I got the gist across and handed him the key. And I really think that it will remind him whenever he needs it.

But it wasn't just the key thing that made this experience amazing. It was Zac's sweetness, his heart on his sleeve. Him demanding we need a silly picture, him calling me Spirit Animal, him reminding me that he sees me on twitter. Him just being his wonderful self.

Zac, brother, I love you so damn much. You are everything I ever hoped you would be and so much more. Thanks to you, I got to meet all these amazing people I can call my friends and family. Thanks to you, I got to talk to someone from Music Makes Life Better tonight and just have a great time. Thanks to you, I get to dance my ass off like I never would anywhere else. Thanks to you, I have a charity to give money to, a charity whose message and work I can believe in.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, a thousand times THANK YOU.

You are a rare gem in the crazy acting world. You make a difference. I thank God every day for your journey and your mission. You are a wonderful human being and I really hope you will never not see that you are loved. You are loved SO SO MUCH.

I love you, God bless you, and see you tomorrow at the Dance Party.