December

Well, it's the last month here. My staff and I were a little melancholy yesterday, but not a whole lot of time for that since it was domestic violence day. Today, no hearings, and so we had a meeting this a.m. to plan out each day for the rest of the month. Tomorrow -- unless there's a surprise on one of the remaining DV days -- will be my final mega-mega hearings day. I start at 8:30 and will feel lucky if I'm done by 8:30 on the other end. Kellee, Judy and Chad (my Bailiff) already know I'm good for dinner in. My problem will be finding five minutes to wolf it down! And - forget lunch!

I'm not complaining. Maybe I am! But in a warped way I will miss days like tomorrow. Hmmm...something wrong there. Ah well!

My first boss, Judge Robert J. Staker, a great man, passed away late Sunday. He had been very ill since this summer. His funeral is Thursday in Huntington and I will be there. I was one of his first Law Clerks and the other two, Christ Gaetanos of Buffalo, N.Y., and Ginna Colburn who now lives in Charlottesville, Va., will join me along with many, many others I'm sure. Christ and Ginna and I had not been back together perhaps in 20 years until we met for Judge Staker's retirement reception September 30, 2005. After it was over, the Judge and his wife took the three of us out to dinner. Incredibly special time - not just then, but also working for him. It was a wonderful privilege to start my career under the tutelage of a mentor so knowledgeable and so caring.

Judge Staker's loss really makes me think back on this year. I have been very, very blessed in my life overall, and one of the particular ways is in my career in the law. While this year has handed me quite a setback - losing the election still smarts like the dickens - I cannot complain about the wonderful jobs I've had. I was told I would never get a clerkship in U.S. District Court and I did - and I have to thank God for it. Oh, I applied - yes, I made the effort - but the people who discouraged me were right to the extent that I shouldn't have had that honor and privilege. But I did. There have been other bumps in my career path beyond the loss of the election - but to have had the chance these past fourteen years to sit on the Family Court bench has been another impossible dream come true. And so, I look forward to the next opportunity, the next challenge, the next chance to serve. I don't mean to sound so noble but I do mean to sound positive.

This month will be devoted to finishing this job. I have several more hearings. I have about 6 files waiting for me to make decisions, some of them rather complex. There are files to clean out and things to take home. And, yes, there will be time devoted this month to the continuing job search. TWO new job possibilities were made known to me just today, and no less than six were presented to me during the month of November alone.

This month also is Advent and we will prepare for the Christmas celebration too, certainly, in our family, in our home, and most importantly in our hearts - our I will do my best to do that personally, anyway. By the way, we just had a wonderful Thanksgiving at my oldest son's (and his wife's) brand new home in Knoxville, Tennessee. The whole family was there, including my best friend and his wife with whom I've spent Thanksgivings since 1978! (Although their kids, my nephew and niece, who are now both old married people, weren't there - but we talked to them which was nice.) It was a great way to christen this home that he designed and did most of the finish construction work on. A lot of friends and family have pitched in and now they have a beautiful and comfortable new home.

Don't know how often I'll be posting this month. It will be busy! I am planning a celebration for my staff, for Christmas, to thank them for their incredible help during the campaign, to thank them for their good and faithful service to me and the Family Court and the public all these years, but most of all to just enjoy spending time with some pretty amazing people.

God bless everyone out there. Have a blessed Christmas season. That reminds me! We need to find the perfect tree - that'll be next on the agenda -