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Editor in Chief Charles McCarter
Production Manager
Organizational Consultant
Copy Editors
Staff Writers
Production &
Contributors
SPJA Site Administrator
Special Thanks To:
Contacting EX EX: The Online World of Anime & Manga © 1996-2000 EX, The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation. All Rights Reserved. |
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Usually at this time of year, I have time to enjoy the holidays a little bit, so I'm in a pretty good mood by the time the end of the year rolls around. But this year, however, it seems that the Grinch is working overtime. My Fed-Ex 2-day packages have not been delivered and they're on day 4 of shipping. My computer at the office keeps deciding to spontaneously crash. It's the little things that make the holidays extra special...or extra stressful. But luckily, I'll have at least a couple of days to recover before I have to go back to
the grind of work. And, as long as my packages get there before Christmas and my plane isn't
delayed, I plan on enjoying what's left of the holiday season.I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy holiday season. Enjoy your
family and friends and all that other schmaltzy stuff. I know that I plan to.It's hard to believe that I've been writing these holiday editorials for almost five years
now, and quite frankly, it really doesn't get any easier. I try and look back and find something new
to say, some witty comment or some words of wisdom.The year is not without struggle, and every day, we have to work at just living. Life is
hard in these complicated days, and oftentimes we find ourselves so wrapped up in just getting by
that we forget to stop and enjoy the things in life that shouldn't be taken for granted.Christmas is a time to be with family and the ones that are special to you. It's also a
time of incredible stress, since daily life must go on regardless of whether or not you've got your
shopping done or your desk cleaned off before you leave. But it's also a time of reflection.But New Years is also a special time as well. The Japanese view New Years as a period of
renewal. It's a fresh start, and so they take great pains to make sure that the year begins well.
At larger Shinto shrines, purification rituals are performed so that the coming year will be a good
one. In fact, the New Years holiday in Japan, which lasts for nearly a week, is the biggest holiday
of the year.Over the years, EX has continued to get bigger and bigger, and it
has become more challenging to maintain. No matter how many people we add, there always seems to be
more work to do. And no matter how much we do, there's always something that we'd like to get around
to, if we just had the time.But right now, we're going to take a little time out to enjoy the holiday season and spend
some time with our friends and families. We've worked hard all year, and I think we've earned a break.
And so have you. The staff of EX would like to wish everyone a joyous holiday
season and a prosperous new year. Or, in Japanese, “Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.”Ex animo,
Charles McCarter |
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