Last week, I ended up taking up what’s become an annual tradition for me. I packed up my bags and shipped up to Boston for three days of anime goodness at Anime Boston. Each year, I can’t help but feel like I’m trapped in a whirlwind of memorable moments, packed into three short days.

It’s something that I’ve come to cherish: Anime Boston has become a chance to connect with old friends, and make new ones. It’s an opportunity to pick the brains of interesting people, to catch up with friends, learn new things, or simply take in a show. I take in panels, meet with artists, snap thousands of photos, and simply engage in some good, old-fashioned retail therapy as I lose myself in the moment.

To be honest, I genuinely mourn when I can’t remember these weekends, as had occurred last year. It’s sad to know that these moments, which were clearly special enough to want to write about, can no longer find a place to reside in my fond memories… and for what? A few dozen news stories that may or may not have had a lasting impact on the world? A few one-shots that wouldn’t go anywhere? We only have so many hours on this planet; why erase the best moments for memories of working until 3AM for yet another newsie?

Ir’s ironic, then, that I find myself knuckling down in the immediate aftermath of the convention. Over the past week, we’ve published a half-dozen columns, which run the gamut from cosplay photo sets, to panel reports, to full-on travelogues. Ironically, in that rush to commit everything to memory, I’ve found myself working harder than ever, with thousands of words hitting the page each day.

Still, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it. For the past sixteen years, this has been a part of the Anime Boston experience, right along with the premieres, the interviews, and the party atmosphere. If I didn’t do this, I’d feel like something wasn’t right; that I’d be losing a part of the weekend to the sheer forces of entropy.

So, with that in mind, I do want to thank the many people who have kept me from overworking as of late. Still, this is something I need to do. I love working conventions, and, to borrow a line from Marie Kondo, putting these virtual time capsules together sparks joy for me. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I have, whether you’re reading them in the moment, or five years from now.

Take care,

Samantha Ferreira