As I put pen to paper for this article, my thoughts and reflections turn to my favorite time of year, the holidays. As you read this, the holiday season will be well underway, with the new year right around the corner.
It is during this season more than any other that I am struck by the unwavering march of time.
My family celebrates the Christmas holiday and my fondest adult memories revolve around my family and Christmas. This was especially true when my three children were young. On Christmas Eve, my family would attend church, keep an eye on the Santa-tracker, and curl up to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and then “White Christmas.” At the end of the evening, the kids would put out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots and sugar for his reindeer. Before they went to bed, my mother would read her three grandchildren “Twas the Night Before Christmas” before retiring to bed herself. At that point, with the house to ourselves, my wife Corina and I would open a bottle of wine and finish some last-minute wrapping or work on assembling a final toy or two. Christmas Eve was always a long night and was always magical. It continues to be.
As it does for many of you who celebrate this holiday, our Christmas day would begin early, with our three kids waking at dawn, eager to open their gifts. The day was filled with love and family, good food and good cheer, and above all thanks and gratitude for all that we had.
My three children, Nicholas, Abigail, and Danielle, are now young adults ages 19, 17, and 15. Nicholas is now a freshman in college. The time spent looking for Santa Claus and waking up at dawn is no more. My mother turns 91 this month. The days of her reading storybooks to her grandchildren have passed.
When you have young children, people will often come up to you with earnest emotion begging you to cherish every moment because time moves so fast. What I have come to know is that the realization and understanding of this phenomenon does nothing to slow it down. The breakneck pace of the passage of time is immutable.
When you have young children, people will often come up to you with earnest emotion begging you to cherish every moment because time moves so fast.
So, as Christmas again approaches, I will once again gather with my family and give thanks for all the blessings in our lives, past and present. I will do my best to exhale and will try with futility to slow time, and above all I will be grateful.
Finally, as the new year stands before us and as my term as president of the State Bar begins its second half, I want to thank you. A week does not go by that I am not amazed at the unbelievable work our members do for their clients and for the people of this state. It is an absolute privilege to be your advocate and president of this organization.
As 2018 draws to an end, and before 2019 comes to us as if shot out of a cannon, my wish for everyone is that you, too, get to exhale and find time to appreciate and enjoy all of the wonders in your life. You have certainly earned the right. The very best to you and yours this holiday season and may you have a blessed 2019.
