Remembering a Legend

In life, everyone has their own ways of grieving. I've decided that this is mine.
All day I have been taking notes about the things I want to say about Justin, and now I'm going to try and patch them all together. I have been writing and rewriting this post ever since I learned of Justin's passing, so I'm hoping it ties together okay.

Brisbane Supanova #2, 2011

The first time I met Justin, I was brand new to the cosplay community so I didn't know him...I didn't know anyone. I saw he had a wicked Superman costume on and immediately asked him for a photo. We got to chatting for a while until we parted ways. It wasn't until a while after that, that I started fangirling over his costumes and sent him a friend request, of course feeling like a stalker.

Sydney Supanova, 2012

2012 was when I really started to get into cosplay and basically chatted to ANYONE who made costumes because I'd never been part of a community like this before. I attended Sydney Supanova for the first time and gave Justin the biggest hug when I saw him. I had found interest in a guy I was introduced to so I spent a majority of the weekend with him, but always had long chats when I ran into Justin.

Heroes and Villains, Sydney 2012

Brisbane Supanova, 2012

Brisbane Supanova that year was the best. Justin and Rob got a hotel room in the same place as me and we pretty much hung out together the whole weekend. We got KFC pretty much every night and pigged out together. The whole day I was Supergirl, those guys would encourage me to get into photos with them and be basically just screwed around all day. The best way to spend Supanova.

And of course, after a long day of getting your photo taken, nothing is better than taking off your headgear/wig and getting a selfie.

Brisbane Supanova, 2013

This Brisbane Nova was AWESOME. Months beforehand, Justin messaged me saying he was getting a DC group together and asked if I wanted to get involved. I couldn't refuse!
That day I met so many new friends through this group including Dan and Rae who of course, like every else live in Sydney and had so much fun with them all. We went on stage for the cosplay comp so everyone could see our awesomeness and I loved strutting my stuff up there.

Next up, was Sydney Supanova 2014. This weekend, was quite possibly one of the best weekends of my life. Justin and his family opened up their home to me because I had nowhere to stay for the weekend and I am forever grateful to them for that. Although I didn't hang with those guys on the Saturday, on the Sunday it was the day of our X-Men group.

Sydney Supanova, 2014

I once again got to see the people I only see at conventions, and spend the day making new friends and networking with other cosplayers/photographers. Sydney has always been the peak of Australian Conventions and I will never forget that weekend...neither will my feet from the blisters I received from my X-Men Elsa on the Friday night.
Of course, the convention weekend would not be complete without a trip to KFC...which we pigged out at and Eleni ate a sandwich ;P

I remember the last words Justin and I spoke. After Supanova was over, he dropped me off at the train station so I could head to the airport and as he was about the leave, I'm so thankful that I stopped him for a huge hug to say thank you. Our last words were "see you at Brisnova". Well Justin, we may not be seeing each other there anymore, but I know you will be watching over us all, telling all the other guys up there how awesome we look and how much you wish you could be there with us.

And that is all the convention experiences I was lucky enough to spend with Justin. Ever since the tears stopped flowing, all I can do is remember all the times I had with Justin.
I remember the night he called me at midnight to chat (even though it was 1am in NSW) and he told me how excited he was for his Mad Max photoshoot that had just been organised. The passion he showed in his cosplay and normal life was beyond amazing.

Every time I saw his smiling face, it was like no time had passed. To me, that is what a real friend is, a person that you can go months without seeing, but feeling like it was just yesterday. Every time I think of him, I remember another awesome memory that I shared with him and wish I could relive them over and over.

Unlike a lot of people I know, I have never experienced a loss such as this. Aside from family pets, I have never lost a family member or friend before so I have given up forcing the tears back, and just letting them flow. I found out the sad news five minutes before starting my shift at work and it was the hardest day of my life. Every time I would let my mind wander from work duties, I would think of Justin and the tears would begin to fall down my face. I didn't want to believe it and I wanted the day to be a horrible nightmare.

To your family, this is the time where you need to be strong for each other and remember, your dad and husband is a hero to hundreds, and he touched every single life he entered. To Ryan, Alicia and Annalise, be brave for your mum and take good care of her. She has lost the love of her life and I can't even begin to imagine what that must be like. I was one of Justin's friends who was lucky enough to meet you all when I came to Sydney and you all opened your home for me. Thankyou for that.

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Last week I attended Justin's funeral and it was a beautiful service. I have never attended one before but I could tell by the fact that we overflowed the hall and spilled onto the street, this is a man who is loved by hundreds. Afterwards, we all headed to their local tavern for food and drinks, and a friend had even made up Bat symbol stickers with Justin's name on them for everyone. I am so happy that I made every effort to fly to Sydney for this day, because I know if I didn't, I definitely would have regretted it after everything he's done for me.

Part of me is hoping that none of this is real and I'll turn up to the next convention, greeted with a hug from him. But of course I know that won't be the case.
Although one thing I'm sure of, is Justin is up there right now giving them heck and watching over his family, and friends.
Every time I complete a costume, I know he'll be watching me, and this has helped me make the decision to put everything I have into my costumes now, because that's what he did.

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I realise it has taken me a super long time to post this, and no doubt I will think of more things I want to say, but for now...Goodbye Justin. Love you, and our friendship will always remain in my heart.

You will forever remain in our hearts, minds, and cosplays.

I'll see you again one day.