Maker Faire 2010

Like last year, work got us a ticket to the Maker Faire. Also, like last year, we had lots of fun seeing the contraptions, robots, sculptures and projects that people had put together. Unlike last year, we almost lost one child and thoroughly terrorized the other.

The fist memorable moment started while we were ogling a small group of R2-D2s. That was when we noticed Megan wasn't with us.

To understand our problem, you have to picture the scene a bit. The hall we were in was huge and dark - lit only by lighting effects or spot lights on the exhibits. There were people everywhere, and this crazy theremin music was blaring in the background.

She had been there just a moment before, when we were shaking hands with a replica of the B9 robot from Lost in Space. Maura and I spent the next 15 minutes racing around, calling her name and peering into crowds. We even asked security for help.

In the end, she had originally been standing on the other side of the R2-D2 area. She couldn't find us, and immediately executed the "I'm lost" plan Maura has ingrained into her head. She found a nice lady and told her she was lost. The lady brought her to security, and Megan was able to give them her name, Maura's name and Maura's cell phone number. Security eventually called us to tell us they had her - she had apparently reached them before we even started talking with security. Maura went to pick her up and we continued our day while Riley and I had a conversation about what he should do if he gets lost.

The second moment revolved around a giant, three-story spaceship. Riley and Megan really wanted to go up and check it out. The problem was that they only let a few people up at a time, and as a consequence the line was moving incredibly slowly. Eventually they wore us down and we got in line.

About an hour later we were finally at the head of the line and given permission to go up. It was clear that things were going to go downhill when we reached the top of the first flight of stairs, and Riley refused to walk any further. I carried him the rest of the way, but by then he had completely lost it in a fit of height-induced terror. I had to physically drag Riley screaming into the spaceship, where he sat quivering for a few moments. The buttons and doodads didn't distract him, he was miserable and scared, so we quickly left.

Those two episodes aside, we did have a lot of fun. They both said they want to go back next year.