On Thanksgiving Eve on the Gette Farm I am sitting here reflecting on the past year's events. My son Michael is working on his fourth year at Penn State and exceeding all of Amy's and my expectations

My 93 year old Italian grandmother recovered remarkably well from a fall resulting in a new hip replacement. That event gave my mother the opening she needed to move Granny from her own apartment into Mom's home and take control of the car keys. It has been a tough adjustment for both but best for all involved. 

My right hand person at work Betty retired in time to be home full time, and care for husband Phil who suffered a stroke within months of Betty's retirement. Although paralyzed on the right side Phil is determined to return to 90% of his old self barring any setbacks.

My old high-school buddy Jerry continues to be a rock to wife Mariane who is fighting a second bout with cancer. Mariane, a poster child for determination and a spirit that just will not quite even through 12 straight months of chemo and now six weeks of radiation. Every phone call to Mariane is an inspiration and a testament to how valuable every day of life is and worth-while the fight

My brother Gray's wife, Joan lost father Lowell to a sudden heart attach. Lowell died taking care of his loved cows. God granted his wish of going out doing what he truely loved, with his high school love, Gloria.  

Young Jimmy Reeder continues to dodge bullets and roadside bombs in Ramadi but will be home for a month at Christmas, God willing. Mother Janet and father Randy count the days as we all do. God Bless all of his battle buddies who continue to perform well, dispite the turmoil here at home.

I could go on and on. All who read this could go on and on. Not one of us has not been touched by friends and family health issues. So I bet we all can recall hearing when we were young, if you don't have your health, and not giving it a second thought. Now I give it a second thought daily. The first thing I do in the morning is open the Centre Daily Times and check the obituaries. The second thing I do breath a sigh of relief when I don't know anyone on the page. However someone else reading that page is not so lucky. And so goes life as it has since the beginning of time. We are here for such a short period of time so live each day as if it your last because in the blink of an eye it could be.