Wow where to start, this has been one for the life journal for me.

Lets see I have had 3 jobs this year yup 3 and hell if I know what I want to be when I grow up.

Health issues hell I have had em

Lets see,

• There was the Chronic Reactive Airways Disease (made me appreciate my lungs like you can't imagine) three days in the hospital.

• My back is ****ed from a car accident, nothing serious just a lifetime of chronic discomfort.

• The flu more times than I can remember.

• Food poisoning twice.

• Torn rotator cuff (I like to call it an athletic injury but more like I am too old to play like I used to, like Toby says I ain't as good as I once was)

• Add in Tammy and Alex's bouts with Asthma this year, both my parents have skin cancer (not the bad kind yet but serious enough).

• Two of the most important people in my world my aunt and uncle had there goes with cancer, his was prostrate and hers breast both success stories.

Cars lets talk them

All three in accidents this year, me well I got T-Boned by some moron that apparently thinks read means speed up and hang on. Tammy decided our other two vehicles got let out and dinged them up too (to the tune of multi thousands)

Stress Challenges

Hell see multiple jobs and multiple crashes above.

Kids

Well kids are kids they are full of challenges and each is there own and all are one together but all in all they are pretty good.

Other ****

My favorite place to hang out online went to hell in a hand basket (fortunately the 11 wise men figured it out)

The world

Man do I even want to go there?

Iran
Afghanistan
The Economy (or lack thereof)
Riots in France, Greece
Terrorism in India
Piracy on the African Coast
The Sub Prime crash
Children dissappearing
Children killing their parents
Parents killing their children
The big three
Countless terrible crimes on humanity
Nevermind all the day to day that we never hear of

Moral

You know the funny part, I consider myself to be one of the most fortunate people alive. No matter what life throws at me I have the support of family and great friends that allow me to look past the past and not worry about the future and enjoy the now.

I would like to use this little piece of cyberspace to thank 3 of them.

To my wife, well its simple without her there is nothing else she is my rock and my motivation my shoulder to cry on and my conscience my friend my lover and my partner.

My good friend Dave (nobody you know) he is that kind of friend that if you call him to tell him you need to bury a body he shows up with his pickup truck an old carpet and buys a new shovel on the way over and doesn't ask a single question. To have friends like this is a fortune unto itself.

My good friend Al (ok you all know this guy AHC4353 for the one or two that don't) how do you explain to someone that one of the greatest people you have ever met that you have never met them. Al reminds me of Dave (see above) only he is a little more of a philosopher than Dave is. Thank you for everything you have done for me my friend.

To the rest of you. Someday I will write my memoirs, even if no one reads it I think that what happens in this place of ours needs to be recorded some how

To all of you I wish the most Merry of Christmases and the Best in the New Year.

Remember that our trials and tribulations are the things that make us who we are, it is what we become out of them that decides whether they are success or failures, victories or tragedies.


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Well written grasshopper!!
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Merry Christmas Fox
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As the great MCS would say - I think I like you.

I thank you for your candor and what you bring here - Merry Christmas to you and an 09 full of family, friends and health.

Take care buddy!

Travis
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Silverfox
Thank You for sharing on the board , I do Know what mean and Thanks for Just hanging out here and may we be able to have that smoke together this year
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Yep, my friend, you have seen quite a bit in your lifetime. I kind of know what you are talking about but this isn't about who has seen more,,,it's about how you see yourself thru it all and you said a mouthful when you said it was about what you do have and you are a lot richer than most. Let's hope 2009 is a turnaround year for you and for us all.
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You had a rough year Shawn, 09 can only be better.
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W0W Shawn!! It seems like you and I picked our 2008 from the same pile!! Each year at New Years a friend of mine declares a theme for the. Up coming year. He declared 2008 to be the year of pain, I thought he was talking about HIS year... When I see him I will kick him in the shin for you too...

All the best to you and yours for 2009!!! You are in our prayers!!

Oh, WE have declared 2009 to be the year of health, prosperity, and hapiness!!
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Merry Christmas and Happy New year to everyone. 09 will be a better year:-)
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Merry Christmas Fox and a Happy and Blessed New Year :-)
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Merry xmas Shawn, all the best to you and yours my friend
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