Champagne...

Champagne, pizza, and pumpkin pie. Sounds kind of weird, huh? But it wasn't, not at all. We gathered in my office today for our first ever official office party, about 12 of us, and we had a blast. No, they don't all work for me, but all of my guests today work with me in various ways, helping us make progress in the daily battle for, well, progress!

Mike and Mark, my radio buddies came and added wit and style to the gathering. They own and operate the new local sports radio station in Visalia, Sporting News Radio on 96.1. Donna, my ever faithful friend and cohort on the Biz Talk event was there, as was Donnie Clark, a great friend and collaborator for the Bill Cosby event we held at LJ last March. There were others, if you can count, but I mention those three because, well, because this is my blog and that's what I want to do! Just kidding.

Some of our guests drank champagne, some Diet Coke. But as our group gathered and grew throughout lunch, the bubbles seemed to affect everyone whether they were drinking champagne or not. Why? It's intoxicating to be in the presence of people you really enjoy, respect and, in the very best way, love. These are ceiling people ... they pull you up, call you higher. They are the opposite of basement people ... pulling you down! You know what I mean, I know it.

In their way, well, they, hmmm, they are like the bubbles in champagne - they float to the top and, in the process, they pull you to the top, too. It was so much fun to laugh, to talk, to toast the coming of Christmas, the advent of a new year, and reflect on the past year, with people you know will be there for you no matter what. Which got me to thinkin' ...

About miracles. The everyday, common sort of miracles we miss too often. The hand that pushes your stalled car out of a busy and dangerous intersection, the encouraging voice on the other end of a phone after a bad, BAD day... those are miracles. As I looked around the room at lunch just today I saw ordinary, walking, talking miracles. I hope they think of me in the same way, but if not, well that's ok, because it makes me happy to be known by such incredible bubbles.

Cheers!