Christmas 2008

I saw a political cartoon yesterday showing Bush throwing his shoe at Baby New Year 2008. I concur with the cartoon’s message. Every now and then you get a year that just doesn’t quite work out the way you had hoped, and 2008 was one of those years. This has been a transition year. On the personal level, I have had many family members and friends die. My wife and I are suffering from empty nest syndrome as my son moved to Columbus. My mother has been ill, and frankly has been difficult to handle as she comes to grips with severe limitations. Financially, it has been the pits with a sinking economy. Recessions just aren’t any fun for anybody. At least on the secular level, this Christmas is glitter deficient.

On the other hand, my family is surviving better than most. My mother is settling down a bit and we have found a wonderful facility for her. My son and I are looking at some potential business ventures we can do together, every father’s dream. And frankly, we bought so much stuff last Christmas, we can do with a little less this Christmas.

While I miss those who have gone to their well deserved rewards, I am enjoying those of us still on this earth more than ever, and have met many of the personal goals I have set for myself in ways other than simply “making money”. As they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I truly believe that.

Many of my friends have also achieved personal goals. One example is my friend Mary Grace Grosso Costello. Gracie is a talented musician and composer who has written some lovely music. She put together a Christmas CD called And Heaven and Nature Sing, in conjunction with the St. Luke Catholic Church Music Ministry. It is a great CD. Included are some of Gracie’s original pieces, as well as familiar Christmas carols and tunes performed by the St. Luke Choir. Gracie told me last year that this was a goal of hers for 2008, and she did it. Is it the Robert Shaw Chorale? No. But it is filled with heart and caring, and is the personification of the Christmas Season as Gracie and her merry band of musicians offer their talents to God. In good times or bad, those are the best gifts. It is a wonderful addition to my Christmas CD collection, and will get played often.

So this Christmas, it is time to go with the flow. And the ebb and flow of life is telling me to slow down, and examine what is important in life, what you need to live…and what you can do without. Maybe this Christmas will turn out to be one of the better ones after all.

Have a blessed and joyous Christmas.