My daily calendar cast Thanksgiving and Christmas before my blurry seventy-four-year-old eyes this morning and I feel obliged to deal with them wisely. But what does that mean anyhow?

The answer to that question was simple when the four children were youngsters living at home and wildly delighted to find special gifts under a brightly lit tree in the early dawn of December 25th each year.

Is the art of being wise the art of knowing what to overlook? If that is true perhaps I can attain wisdom after all before the end of 2010.

I can overlook the sadness of losing a son-in-law by focusing on the joy he brought to our families' lives. I can overlook the stress induced by jobless months and celebrate the new position offered to a still-grieving-but-moving-ahead daughter.

Yes, I'll overlook any and all harsh words or behaviors that crossed my path these past ten months no matter from where or whom they came, and center on the kind words and actions that were showered on me in unexpected manners and moments.

I'll choose to forget the phone calls, e-mails, letters and cards I unrealistically expected from career-involved family and friends that never arrived. 

I'll forgive myself for my self-centeredness and re-frame the final two months of 2010 by reaching in toward loved ones more deeply than ever.

Then just maybe wisdom will find me. How peaceful that will be.