I have always loved my birthday, December 31^st . When I was growing up, every Christmas gift I received, the card read Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday. Also, I have memories of my family discussing the fact that when relatives came to visit that Christmas, they would be stopped in the yard to be shown a batch of new puppies. So relatives got to see the new puppies before getting to see the new baby.

Also, the story was told that when the sisters and brothers that had been sent off to a relatives because of the coming birth of a new baby and were asked as they were being brought home, being asked, “Guess what we have at our house?” they replied, “A New Puppy!” A new baby was not very important in our family. I was the tenth child.

I have liked my birthday for other reasons. The whole world celebrates.

December 31, 1999 was a very special birthday. The whole world celebrated the coming of a new century and I stayed up until midnight to watch the celebrations around the world. This past year has been a toxic time in our political world. Many of the political fi gures have been accused of inappropriate action. There seemed to be no end to it.

Cal Thomas, in his column on December 31^st , suggests that we hug each other a little more, speak a little softer and try a little tenderness, especially in our political discourse.