“You mean it wasn’t real? The bandit? The moonlight?”
Earlier today, an old friend commented on my Facebook status, jokingly begging me to blog about something other than manga. I had to laugh a bit, especially since this person has known me a very long time, because I would have thought most people in my life have realized by now that, well, I don’t really do hobbies. I do passions. I grab on to the things that are meaningful to me, and let them carry me to my next destination. I’ve always felt very strongly that these things lead me to where I most need to be, and so far that philosophy has served me very well in life.
So, if you’re among those who mourn the fact that this has become primarily a manga blog, just try to think back to all the things that brought me this far–all those stops along the way where I found each of you–and remember that even when I’m unsure about where I’m going, I’m always fully committed to the journey. This is the one truth about my life I know for sure I can believe in. For now, the journey has brought me to manga, and I’m extremely excited to find out where I’m headed from here.
Now… will somebody please license Bakuman?
andrea says
February 20, 2009 at 11:34 pmYes, those who know and love you must accept that you throw yourself into your loves wholeheartedly. :) Even if we can’t or won’t follow, we still love you for it!
Melinda Beasi says
February 20, 2009 at 11:35 pm*heart* Thank you! I’m sure it must be frustrating at times, but it’s who I am!
andrea says
February 20, 2009 at 11:34 pm(also lookie! I followed the clicky! I win!)
Melinda Beasi says
February 20, 2009 at 11:35 pm(YOU TOTALLY WIN!)
Val Nelson says
February 21, 2009 at 12:03 amMelinda, I love your writing style and your full commitment to the journey. I don’t care if I don’t know anything about manga. It’s still a pleasure to read. But when your manga book is out, I will finally be a manga reader.
Melinda Beasi says
February 21, 2009 at 12:05 am:D I think you will be waiting a long time, but it’s good to know there would be some readership!
And thank you. :)
badzphoto says
February 21, 2009 at 12:39 amah, I joined the manga and anime journey a couple of years ago and haven’t looked back ;)
Bakuman does look interesting. I hope it gets licensed.
Melinda Beasi says
February 21, 2009 at 7:32 amIt’s been awesome to meet so many great people on this particular leg of the journey! :D
Grace says
February 21, 2009 at 12:43 amI’m surprised there’s been no announcement about Bakuman liscensing yet. Surely it will be with the popularity of those two, plus it seems like it would go over really well just as a look into the manga business in Japan.
Melinda Beasi says
February 21, 2009 at 7:33 amThey are torturing me on purpose! ;D
Seriously, though, I know I’m being ridiculously impatient, but it really does get better with each new chapter. Right?
Grace says
February 21, 2009 at 7:41 amHave you read the most recent chapter? It looks like One Manga’s got it up. I really, really liked this chapter a lot. (I love Hattori.)
Melinda Beasi says
February 21, 2009 at 7:42 amYeah, actually it was reading that last night that got me all pumped up about it. :)
Eva says
February 21, 2009 at 2:24 amNo, no, no! Before Bakuman must come Gokusen. I’ve been waiting waaaay too long for that one. ^_^
(It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who doesn’t do hobbies. Who has time for hobbies when there are obsessions to be, you know, obsessed over.)
Melinda Beasi says
February 21, 2009 at 7:34 amIt’s a RACE! :D
(I’m glad I’m not the only one too!)
E says
February 21, 2009 at 7:00 amcan you say ‘TOMMY’?
actually, i think i could make an extensive list. Viva!!!!
Melinda Beasi says
February 21, 2009 at 7:35 amI actually *thought* of both TOMMY and you when I was looking back to write this. HEEEEE. And yeah, you’ve been around for a *lot* of them.
Oh, E. *love*
jansong@livejournal.com says
February 21, 2009 at 7:21 amI love this entry and the quote you used to begin it! And E really has me laughing out loud with her reply. :) Get up. Get up. We must have a Lucy walk and talk this morning……
Not right away, but as the morning wears on. I miss you!
Melinda Beasi says
February 21, 2009 at 7:35 amI’m up! Not quite run-out-the-door up, but I will be eventually! :D
E says
February 21, 2009 at 9:00 ami’m ready for coffee talk
Melinda Beasi says
February 21, 2009 at 11:43 amPLEASE COME.
jansong@livejournal.com says
February 21, 2009 at 7:37 amI’m not ready for the up-and-at-’em moment either. But later. :) I’ve had my first cup of coffee. I’ve a new teapot we might want to try during after walk chat time. xoxo
Melinda Beasi says
February 21, 2009 at 7:39 amSounds good! :)
An Old Friend says
February 21, 2009 at 8:57 pmI mourn not, but note that when I had a link to your new blog from my LJ, I called it “Melinda’s Real Life Blog” :)
Love your manga wildly, passionately even, but come back to the non-mangaloids occasionally. That’s all I ask :)
And, risking a bit of redundancy, check out this possible inspiration for your “Bakuman”. They’re Danish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JAFppD_cGY
:)
Melinda Beasi says
February 21, 2009 at 10:33 pmAhhhh, but see, this is my real life! That’s my point. :) I would make one suggestion… every once in a while, read one of the manga entries. I tend to personalize everything, so honestly, if even if you’re reading about manga in my journal, what you’re really reading about is me.
Hee- I said this over on Facebook, but that song would inspire a pretty interesting manga. :D I actually tried to figure out some way to relate it to Bakuman just for fun, but I eventually gave up.