I forgot what morning it was, but "One More Time" by Daft Punk played on the radio. I remember the first time I heard that song, I was brushing my teeth before I took my SATs. It only reminded me to look forward to Anime Expo 2001, and suppress the regret I had for missing Fanime 2001. When I listened to the 2001 hit again, I looked back at the five years I have been to Fanime.

Fanime holds special meaning to me. Tom and I started dating in 2003. We were quiet about it, but we were crazy about each other then. It's only stronger now. As many of you know, I moved back to Los Angeles when I was done with college. Fanime meant the convergence of both my Northern California and Southern California friends at the same place at the same time.

Part of the reason why I enjoyed Fanime 2007 is because it reminded me of what Anime Expo 2001 and Anime Expo 2002 meant to me - a large enough convention with a little bit of everything, and you'll find your friends or they'll find you. While some may object, in short, Fanime 2007 reminded me of why I loved going to conventions. Prior to Fanime, I was on the phone with Tom. The conversation went along the lines of, "I don't see myself fitting in with the anime crowd anymore." Yet, Fanime 2007 only confirmed that it's the friends your with and share memories with that matter.

I'm willing to accept that the anime fandom is saturated by a new generation. Many of the usual crowd have gone their own ways. I know my old crew from 2001 and 2002 went their own ways, only because we were growing up. 

I miss the Bay Area. The Bay Area stands for everything I love about life. I feel very much at home when I'm in the Bay Area. Having both North and South present allows me to have my circle of friends grow larger. As I see certain circles disappear, this was a time to create new friendships. I'm very glad to get to know some of you a little bit better in such short time. While Fanime is four days long, it still is a short time to catch up with how things are going.

Tom and I truly appreciate Claudine and Franco's gratitude as they treated us out to grub. We're very happy to see our friends at Fanime. It's a very clichéd saying that goes on and on, but we do mean it this time. Not for one moment I felt it was a "Hi! Bye!" situation. None of these drive by "Hi"'s, but actual serious catching up time.

Angela and I discussed that Fanime should have a programming schedule. People actually want to attend panels and other live programming. Claudine was confused as to where the doll gatherings were. Yet, the only one I knew off the top of my head was the Sunday gathering. Fanime did have dead points where nothing was going on, it would have been nice to know what else was happening.

I cannot express that the best part of Fanime was seeing friends again. All of you mean so much to me, and being together doing what we love, united in our hobbies and interest. I love you all very much! I'm very fortunate that our friendship can transcend the convention setting and the fun doesn't have to to stop there.

Of course, none of this would be possible without Tom. As he told me before at my first Fanime, when we leave for Fanime, it will be together. We were ready to head home by the time we had our late lunch, but I wanted to stroll along the San Jose convention center just one more time to remember. A convention ending like this never felt so bittersweet since Fanime 2003 when I teared up at the airport saying "bye bye" to Tom. We weren't a couple then, but the tears only meant I was in love with him. I'm tearing up even writing this!

While Tom says that we have Anime Expo to look forward to, I'd like not to think about it now. Fanime 2007 had to be the best convention I've had in a long time, but with such a bittersweet ending. As simple as I thought things were - Tom squeeing over guns, a simple outburst by Diana over a costume, Bart Boy doing the twist, Richie expressing how much he wants to crossplay as Haruhi, singing the 80s with Angela, Albert sharing his convention stories, Claudine ranting and raving, Nando at a dollfie gathering, Ace's shopping advice, Char's catgirl ears, Stan cursing like there's no tomorrow, Lacie's name-calling, Pegasus Maiden's cutesy voice, Lionel 's funny faces, Hector's sax skills, Franco and the demon burger, Rico and Cherry being cute, Mr. K hitting on me, Pikmin Link shaking her Hyrule booty, and I can go on and on! It doesn't end there. It's the simple things, and without them, it's not really Fanime 2007.

I love Tom very much. I've only come to realize now that by appreciating the simple things we do, it's enough reason for me to want to be with him for the rest of my life. I started to tear up once my flight left San Jose. I'm normally not supposed to be the bittersweet one, but I cannot help my emotions. I miss you all, but most of all, I miss Tom. Thank you everyone!

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