Paraphrasing Dickens' Tiny Tim: "Merry Christmas, everyone." Christmas morning has already made it's way to Australia and New Zealand among others. Having always celebrated Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere thoughts of going to the beach for Christmas are still a little hard to reconcile. It's been a long year with many sad times and many times to celebrate. As we gather with family for the holidays, listen to beautiful music, and share special times with friends there will be so very much to remember. Christmas will take me to the family homestead for the first time in many years.

Whatever your celebrations are be they Christmas, Hanukkah or other traditions and whether you find yourself on the beach, traveling or on the ski slopes, in summer or winter, may you share in best wishes for a time of relishing memories of those past, joy at what is to come and peace in your heart.