Every year at this time I feel sad. Just the nature of time passing, December being here again…and life passing. At the same time, both the tragic and miraculous show up for me. On the tragic side, the many shootings, here and abroad, star at me everytime I open my email. I always wonder if we have really become so much more violent or the nature of this information age brings us news that just never would be aware of in prior times. There are days when I feel that I have “too much information” about things, people and events, over which I have no control.

Then, on the side of the miraculous…so many good things. In our own house, Lily Upp, our 10 year old daughter of Sue Upp, has successful beaten the big bad wolf of bone cancer. The whole year was the year of Lily…and, finally, such a triumph for her and her Mom, Sue…and for all of us who connected between Reno and Detroit. Sue is our Regional Sales Manager working at a distance only in miles, not in spirit.

Jane Wirth, wife of David Wirth, is also beating the devil of cancer…and healing wins out, with her spirit and body rallying to the task. She is at UCSF Med Center…where she is not at the tale end of the treatment she started a few months ago. There are days when the issue is not having cancer…but, being grateful that whatever it is, is more vulnerable that the human body it tries to conquer.

Then, the war. Painful to think of…year after year, as I wrote in my message this month, it seems that the concerns and fears and challenges remain unchanged. But, this year, we are almost at 4,000 Americans having died…and untold thousands of Iraqis. That history has many more tales of worse wars is no consolation. The loss of a future for each individual…of their potential, their untold legacy…except in the projection of meaning by those of us remaining.

So, each of you, along with me, I am sure can list the tragedies and miracles of 2007. I am willing to go forth into 2008 with great expectations of goodness and healing. An election year…that gives us all one more chance to reevaluate nad mkae choices. That each day offers choices is the truth…but, the end of a year, is like a magnification of the choices…

Have a great holiday, but more important, , I will try to remember that the days and years following are the real gift…