I just "dropped off" what may be the best Christmas present yet for my folks. Every year I buy so new highfalutin fandangled gift for them and it's either reluctantly accepted by them or more reluctantly returned by me because they absolutely refuse it.

So, what to get them this year, I racked my brain? iPods? New digital cameras? After all, they're getting noticeably older and I am beginning to fathom their sense of nostalgia and eagerness to see me move on in my life.

I helped my dad install a new printer the ysterday and he was elated that it was working. To celebrate, the first thing he did was to print out a picture of me from my parents' past trip to New York for Thanksgiving. He was so happy just to have a picture of me. It was honestly very touching to think that just that one photo meant so much. I know, I should realize this as their only son, simple things can so greatly endear my parents.

So, why should my dad settle for one photo, why not... every single photo I could find of my parents and I?! I spent the next day downloading, sorting and re-collecting every photo I could find of me and my family. (Good thing I have almost all my photos with me on my portable external hard drive.)

Google Picasa turned out to be a FANTASTIC tool to make a Movie Slideshow out of the 148 photos I collected, played to the wistful melodies of Madonna's "I Remember" and Sara McLachlan's "I Will Remember You."

Not to sound prideful, but I was stunned and moved. Almost 10 years' worth of memories stretched out over 10 minutes in photos.

I usually think of my parents as dour people. But then I saw photo after photo of my mom and dad with wide ear-to-ear Cheshire grins on their faces, in San Diego, Maryland, New York. It was so refreshing to see that they were in fact truly happy at points in their life. I need to savor them more and now I really want to create great new memories and get those smiles back on their faces and back in my memories to replace the frowns I see in mind when I think of them.

My friends - I cannot help but think of how lucky, fortunate and blessed I am to have such great friends that I have. Seeing all the great times we've been through together through the years lifted my spirits like no gift ever could.

And to see it all in the "big picture" - I have lived a very fortunate life so far. I have so much to be grateful and happy for that has passed.

Yes, there have been many setbacks, depressing moments and downturns. But you know what? It all doesn't matter.

I can't help but think that it's all about what you choose to keep in your heart, store in your mind, and take with you in spirit.

I can't help but think my parents will love this. I honestly hope a tear or two will be shed - and dammit I don't care if it's me.

Take the best out of everything that life gives you. Today, I choose to be happy and will take the most positive outlook I can for any situation.

Life has been good and it can be great.

Thank you to all that have helped me here today. The best thing I can give you is my sincere appreciation and gratitude. I love you all. And of course, Happy Holidays!

On Friday I had my last conference call with my team of Sales Engineers. In 2009 I will no longer be a manager and will instead be an "Individual Contributor" SE on the Top 50 Accounts sales team. I am very excited about this change. But on Friday, the reality of the situation finally started setting; I will no longer be managing this team. It feels like a good time for this change and I am ecstatic about the great learning opportunity that will be my new role in the new year.

It also made me reflect today on the past year and past years, in fact. I wrote to a friend today that 2008 was not a good year. It wasn't terrible, but definitely not great. I then created an Excel list of all the major milestones in my life going back to 2004. There have been many significant events (moving to New York, Lasik surgery, job promotions, relationships, etc.) many great, some bad. 2004 and 2005 were good to great years. 2006, 2007 and 2008 definitely not so much.

It made me wonder if I have a good sense of how the next year will be before it even starts. I know for a fact that I thought that 2008 may not be a good year before it started. I was hoping I would be wrong because 2008 has the number "8" in it and 8 is good luck in Chinese and thus 2008 should be a good year. Well, it it wasn't great. I browsed back through my blog entries and indeed 2008 even started terribly - apparently I was stuck in travel and airplane delays and it was a painful start to 2008. The weddings of this year have been a great highlight as well as being with friends on trips and birthdays. But work had been a struggle. But all's well that end's well right? And 2009 is looking real good, work wise. I hope this good feeling I have will turn out to be true.

Finally, reading some of my old blog entries made me think that I sounded quite a bit immature in the blog posts. I would like to think I have actually gained some better self knowledge and maturity in going through some of the more painful moments and unwise mistakes of the past few years. (I may have even posted about maturity earlier.) Regardless, I feel ready to make great changes for improvement. It doesn't feel like an emotional reaction or based on regret. I just feel ready. Take it a step at a time and don't be too hard on myself.

2009, we have great hopes and aspirations for you!

There is almost no one in the office. Things are blowing up (as usual). And it's snow up a storm (literally) in New York. It's beautiful! Fantastic big fat flakes of snow.