A Christmas Wish

Chatting with a soldier during "Operation Thriller II"
This Christmas season has special significance for me because of the USO tour. While celebrating and partying with friends and family, I can’t help but think of the many men and women in our military who will be far from home. During that week in Afghanistan, I came to appreciate the scope of their sacrifice. Amid all the hustle and bustle, please take a moment to think of them and their families, and if you have an opportunity, thank one personally for their service. Photos of the tour are now posted on Facebook and my website.
I hesitate to share with you the second event that gave Christmas special significance, because it’s an unhappy story. It does, however, snap into focus what’s important. The tragedy took place three blocks from my home around 1:00 in the afternoon. The police investigation is ongoing, but this is basically what happened.
A twenty-seven-year old man driving an SUV was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run with two vehicles. Fleeing that scene at a speed of 85-100 mph, he came to intersection where other cars were stopped for a traffic light. He caused a seven car collision. Two of the vehicles involved were cut practically in half.
One man died in the crash.
Diners in the nearby McDonald’s who witnessed the accident rushed out to help. One of them was an eighteen-year-old high school student. He ran up to the SUV to check on the driver, who’d caused the accident, and on his twin children who were in the vehicle with him.
The driver shot and killed the student.
The investigation that followed this incident took hours. The major thoroughfare was closed for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. Police had a complicated chain of events to piece together, but ultimately the SUV driver was arrested. His children were among those who suffered injuries and had to be transported to the hospital.
Two bodies were taken to the morgue.
Later, while listening to the news reports, it occurred to me that when those two victims woke up that morning, they had no way of knowing that it would be their last day. For as busy and difficult as my day had been up to that point, I was suddenly very grateful for every moment of it and ashamed for complaining about what amounted only to temporary inconveniences.
One footnote that makes this story even more heart-wrenching: The eighteen-year-old, who died trying to be a Good Samaritan, had a brother who lived in New Orleans. He had been shot and killed four days earlier.
Don’t sweat the small stuff has become a cliché that’s lost some of its punch from overuse. But it’s a lesson we should live by. I shared this not to make you sad, but to stress the importance of being merry. Life is precious, and this is the season to truly celebrate it.
Thank you for another year of support. You continue to be so good to me, and I wish I could give each of you a big hug of gratitude.
Be safe, be well, be joyful!
