Christmas Day December 25, 2007

Christmas Day December 25, 2007
“The Best Christmas Ever”

God let me wake up today on the day his son Jesus was born. I never used to think like this but as I breathe and see the world another day I think about how many people did not wake up today? When I opened my eyes there was my wife of almost 25 years. (Think of the divorce rate in the US ; when she took the oath for better or worse she meant it and sometimes I’ve been no picnic and tougher times are looming ahead.) I took a nice long hot shower, I take much longer than I used to but what a great feeling. (Lots of people sure can’t say the same) I got to talk with family and friends, little harder for them to understand me, but still great. I wished I could have talked to more of them, but I am blessed to have so many friends. I got to look ay website, www.jimculveyhouse.com, that my brother in law Alex, put together and see how many people are supporting my cause to help find a cure for this horrible, incurable, under funded disease. This made me smile and feel great. This past week my long time friend and lawyer, Ken Sherman, Jr. revised our trust which was one of the biggest loads off my mind since I was diagnosed with this horrible disease. Twenty Five percent (25%) of our net worth, off the top, will go to charities which makes me feel like most people should – appreciative of what they have and to be able to give back. Even though I haven’t been able to eat for four months, I got to smell the wonderful food that our close friends, Peter and Robin Juhren invited us over with my mother in law to partake in a traditional Christmas dinner with their family.

All in all it’s a great day, whenever you can laugh, cry and reminisce in the same day. I leave you with a poem that is apropos and sums up my feelings exactly:

I have a list of people I know, all logged in my computer,
And now on Christmas I have gone to take a look.
And that is when I realize that these names are a part,
Not of the computer they're stored in, but of my heart.
For each name stands for someone who has crossed my path sometime,
And in that meeting they've become the rhythm in each rhyme.
And while it sounds fantastic for me to make this claim,
I feel that I'm composed of each remembered name.
And while you may not be aware of any special link,
Just meeting you has changed my life, a lot more than you think!
For once I have met somebody, the years cannot erase,
the memory of a pleasant word (or E-mail) or of a friendly face.
So never think my E-mails are just a mere routine,
of names upon an address list, forgotten in between.
For when I do a Christmas Day E-mail that is addressed to you,
it’s because you're on the list of people I'm indebted to.
And whether I have known you for many years or few,
in some way you have been a part of shaping things I do.
And now that Christmas has come, I realize anew,
the best gift life can offer is meeting people like you.

I hope you enjoyed your day as much as I did. We have a lot to be thankful for. Enjoy your family and friends as you never know when a “curveball” will change your life dramatically. God bless you all and I wish you a safe and wonderful new year

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