Happy Holidays!!

Like everybody this time of year I am very busy professionally and personally. Even with the benefit of my wife’s prescription strength coffee (so strong, I can only handle on the weekends), I can’t focus for #%*^ on Saturday mornings. So I am going to check out of the Blog Posts for the rest of the year. Reviewing the massive amount of comments each of my Posts receives, I have considered that this could lead to a violent backlash, but I can’t wavier.

If I’m being completely honest, the real reason for the lack of the desire is the Lionel Train set up in our Great Room. I drink the coffee and stare at the train as it goes round and round – likely resembling an institutionalized mental patient – occasionally hopping up to press the Whistle button. The motion and sound puts me in a type of meditative state which I enjoy.

The train was purchased last year for our boys (they were unaware). We watched the Polar Express the day before Thanksgiving then I got up at 5:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving and set up the train while they slept. It was great to watch their reaction when they first saw it! But since then I have used the train 10 fold compared to them – so I must consider that it was likely a selfish acquisition.

My wife got me the Conductor Car for my Birthday this year with the Tom Hanks announcement stating “Alllllll aboard. This is the Polar Express.” I was stoked – the coolest Birthday present in years! Then it struck me as an odd regression. It was like when I was 6 years old and my Grandma would get me a new Freight Car for my train each year and I was equally moved.

In any case, this is how I will spend my Saturday mornings. The masterfully written, equally compelling Posts (which some have described as possibly the best writings since Dickens or Tolstoy) will continue after the first of the year.

Wishing everybody a Wonderful Holiday Season! This goes double for our clients, who we are truly grateful to work for!!!

posted by Dan Hebbeln: [email protected]