The strange phenomenon of "3" (Bummer alert!)

I mean like when celebrities die, they always say it happens in "threes". But this last week it happened to me on a more personal level. While visiting my parents for Christmas, a friend came by and told us her mom was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. A real sad scene. Her dad killed himself when we were in high school, and her mom has since been her life. 2 days later one of my best friends called to tell me his mom had suffered a massive heart attack and was in a coma. Doctors didn't anticipate a recovery and told him to begin making preparations. They have since removed her from life support. And today, yet another close friend informed us that her mother was found unconscious and choking on the floor (she suffers from MS and recently changed her meds). She is also in a coma from which she is not expected to recover.

I guess all of this hit me a little harder because of the combination of 3 in a row, during the holidays, on top of me being physically and mentally drained from our new business. What hurts the most is knowing how hard it is on all three of my friends. Plus, the tendency in a situation like this (I think) is to project it onto your own family, which conjures up thoughts of the sad inevitabilities of life.

For some reason, 2006 really seemed to beat up on me as well as a lot of friends and family. Granted, I have much to be grateful for. We had our baby boy, who is the most unbelievable thing ever. We're healthy. We have a new business unfurling before us. And while the realist in me knows that January 1st is merely one in a never-ending series of days that feed into the next, the optimist in me looks forward to a year that brings more positive memories.

I wish all of you the best for 2007, and always remember to cherish each day that you're given on this earth.