FEEL ME.

"0 Days to GO!!!"
...or "Sh*t, Now I've got to find a real job..."
Well, here we are...since I'm too emotional to think of anything to write, I'll just post a copy of my "farewell email" to the past and present staff of Walt Disney Studios Australia...Bless 'em all!.........(sob!)...(sniff!)...

...the play is done...the curtain drops...and an encore?...well, we'll
see...

Ok, one day to go....I really don't know what to say...I think I'm still
in denial (somebody's going to have to pry my cold dead fingers from my
lightbox...). I'm hoping this email makes it 'real' for me.

I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work here all these
years...but closing the door on one of the happiest times of my life has
been a struggle...
This has been (as I'm sure most of us feel this way) my dream job...my
"love-job", as they say. I know I will be hard-pressed to find a job
where I might experience the same passion as I've had for this one.

In the fourteen years I've been here (I'm counting my stint as a cel
painter...and with O.T., probably more...), I have never once felt that
it was actual "work"...or felt that I should be doing something else
with my life...This is definitely where I wanted to be.
That is, in part, due of course, to the job itself...to the fact that
most of us are being paid to draw...to DRAW! Being paid to do something
we love, something we're passionate about...(I still pinch myself
sometimes).
Don't get me wrong, of course there's been some really tough times over
the years (mostly trying to meet deadlines!). But even those
times...pizza-nights, weekends, all-nighters, etc., (which over the
years have cost me, I think, four relationships, countless sleepless
nights, a few stomach ulcers...and have driven me to smoke and
drink...), even those times, I think what has driven most of us is the
desire and passion to do good work...
If passion has driven us over the years, what has kept our spirits up,
and what has really made this whole experience memorable for me, are the
people.
The people we work with...past and present...being surrounded by
talented, like-minded, passionate people is what has made it all
worthwhile.

I've grown up (literally), with most of you guys...Each of you has
contributed to my growth, as an artist, and, most importantly, as a
person. For that I thank you.
Over the years I have made life-long friendships working
here...no...'friendship' doesn't really cover it...You guys have been
Family to me...
We've been through a lot together...good times and bad...and it's been
an honour and a pleasure working and playing with all of you.
Thank you for your friendship, thank you for the camaraderie, thank you
for the love...
...and if I can do anything for any of you, all you have to do is ask...

I feel hollow...writing this......Soon, I will only have great memories
to tide me over until we meet again...like they say, gotta say goodbye
to be able to meet again...(but honestly, where's the "good" in
goodbye??).
In a way, I feel like the luckiest person...to have had something that
makes saying goodbye so hard...

..."never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."......in a sense,(perhaps
overstated a bit) I feel like that's something we've done...and can do.

Well, as we all scatter into the four winds...I say, be well...do good
work...and damnit, KEEP IN TOUCH!

To absent friends, and to those who are here now...from my heart and
soul, thank you.....for everything you have meant to me...

Goodbye for now, I will miss you all so much...I love you all.

Marv