Thanksgiving to me is the beginning of the end of the year. It's today that the morose feeling begins each year like it does every year when the holidays roll around to signal the end of the year on the calendar. I hate birthdays and I especially despise New Years Eve and it's ending the year and beginning anew. ughhhh, hate it! I am just perfectly happy in my place in life. Here, now and really like this time I am living in. When I was in the Navy and I'd be deployed on months long cruise or stationed overseas I'd always be wishing days & months away waiting for the future. Come on tomorrow. Hurry up next 5 months. Can't wait for 3 more years and I can reenlist or get out. Lots of time spent in my past wishing it away. Now, I will it to stay. Live in the here and now I say...

Like I said, that feeling of dread comes to me each year about now. Cold sets in and days are shorter and we start to look back to account for and take stock of our year that is fading out. This one was tough from day one. Many of you know that one of my best friends died earlier this month after a years long fight with cancer. Since last October and finding out about his illness I have lived everyday before Tim's death silently wishing the clock to stop, holding on to each moment to stay in the moment and cherish all that is. I still have not learned patience in any sense of the word but since this is the beginning of the end of 2014, I know I have learned the value of time! Tonight I am drinking one for my buddy and another for just because!

Live in the moment as tomorrow may come, but right now is all you got!