So this is Christmas... Part 1

Another year ends. It’s been an eventful year for me with so many things occupying my thoughts that I have been less than diligent in writing. What better way to end the year then, than to rectify that?

So, as we look forward to a better 2010, I would like to cast a glance back at the people and things that I am grateful for that made a difference to me in 2009. This list is not presented in any particular order though without doubt, my wife, Mei, has been the most important person in my life in recent times and I have placed her first on this list.

So here it is: my celebration of 2009.

1. Mei

Mei and I just celebrated our third wedding anniversary. How time flies! We’ve had a wonderful 3 years with more ups than downs and I marvel at how she’s put up with some of the challenges that have come my way. She’s faced them all with equanimity, patience and unreserved support. In the last couple of years, I’ve made some pretty drastic course changes and consequently ridden some pretty hefty storms. Through it all, Mei’s stayed the course and that’s helped me navigate the waters better than if I hadn’t had her by my side.

At our wedding I talked about how there had been so many changes in my recent life and how all of it was good but the best of it was Mei. That opinion has not changed despite even more changes, and has in fact been more firmly planted.

In the last two weeks, courtesy of the La Sallian annual dinner and family Christmas gatherings, I’ve been thinking very much of old friendships. Being a bit of a packrat, I’ve kept some stuff from long ago and on a whim dug up an autograph book which contained the following Roy Croft poem. The words may not be mine, but the feelings most definitely are. So here they are, reproduced in tribute to the most wonderful person in my life - and top of my list of things and people I celebrate.

“I love you,

Not only for what you are,

But for what I am

When I am with you.

I love you,

Not only for what

You have made of yourself,

But for what

You are making of me.

I love you

For the part of me

That you bring out;

I love you

For putting your hand

Into my heaped-up heart

And passing over

All the foolish, weak things

That you can’t help

Dimly seeing there,

And for drawing out

Into the light

All the beautiful belongings

That no one else had looked

Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you

Are helping me to make

Of the lumber of my life

Not a tavern

But a temple;

Out of the works

Of my every day

Not a reproach

But a song.

I love you

Because you have done

More than any creed

Could have done

To make me good

And more than any fate

Could have done

To make me happy.

You have done it

Without a touch,

Without a word,

Without a sign.

You have done it

By being yourself.

Perhaps that is what

Being a friend means,

After all.”