Have a holly jolly Christmas!

Christmas is a of time giving, a time of spending the day with loved ones and family rejoicing in the joys of love, caring, and well... family.

I am 8000 miles away from most of that this year, but oddly I am far closer to most than I have ever been.  2010 has been a pretty crazy year.  It has seen my life pretty much collapse, but it also saw me say "enough" and fight back and believe in myself like I never have before.

While I have many many challenges ahead of me, I can always look back at 2010 as the year I busted my hump and moved to Dubai to work for a company I very much enjoy working for.  I love the people I work with (even when I am incredibly frustrated with them), I feel a kinship with my fellow manager team (though I wish we could all spend more time together) and despite the difficulties of getting stuff done in this very well disguised third world country, I am very proud of my accomplishments this year.

To my friends back home, Steve, Tony, John, Shawn, Dejah, Crystal, Richard, and Kermit.  Thank you guys, you are are closer to me in many ways than my actual family.  I have known most of you my entire life, and no matter where our lives may take us, you will always be my dearest friends.

To my TC Chang Bangers past and present.  Dirty, The Juice, Christina, Erin, Livi, Daniel, BC, Lisa, Amanda, D-wreck, Jacob, Kevin, Melissa, Matt, Davis, Heather, Marrisa, Corey, Jace, Sibio and the others I have spent time with over the last year.  Thank you dearly.  While I do not know you as well as my childhood friends, some of us have shared some pretty wild experiences, seeing each other at the best and worst of our lives.  When I get back to town, you can be assured that I will take a few of us out for drinks at Sam's with at least one round on me.

A thanks goes out to my new friends here in Dubai.  There are alot of you, mostly people I work with but I despite the difficulty in finding someplace to live, I have never felt more welcomed and at home.  I am going to be here a while, and knowing I have such awesome friends makes me smile, and makes work fun too!

To my long distance friends from the last year.  Cassie and Aya, you two have been ... probably the best friends anyone could ever have that they have never shaken hands with or given a hug.  Both that I hope to someday rectify.  Thank you.

To my son, his mother and his half sisters.  I miss all of you... I am so happy you have a good family, and I wish I could be there more to see you all grow up.  Tristan, you are my little big man, and there has never been a man more brave, courageous and heroic than you.  I have taken inspiration from you in this last year and decided to fight even when everyone said it could not be done.  Thank you.

To Jake.  My head shrinker.  I know you will not read this blog, but you were in the right place at the right time.  I still remember how crestfallen you looked during my second visit when I told you I had been dumped the night before.  I laugh about it now, it seems like a lifetime ago.  You listened when I needed to be listened to, and made me think in ways that did not insult my heart, or intelligence.  While I may not be a religious man, and in any other situation I would not have continued to see you ... I did.  And I thank you.

To Jessica.  I am sorry that things turned out the way they did.  And while it may be a wound that never heals, I have only ever wanted you to be happy.  And while it stings my heart, and my pride.  I wish you the best, and a bright future in whatever you seek to accomplish.  If anything, that was a promise I always kept... I always believed in you.

To my dad.  You are both the strongest, and weakest man I have ever known.  I have idolized you my entire life, and sought to live my life to an example to make you proud.  I have never been happy with what I have become, but now... I am.  I am proud of what I have accomplished, and underneath that gruff, unfeeling exterior that I emulated so well for decades, I know you are proud of me.  I love you dad.

In times past I would have told myself that I accomplished everything on my own through force of will, determination, grit, talent and skill.  And while a lot of my accomplishments can be attributed to that it was all of you that helped make it possible.  I spent my entire life isolating myself, fearing what would happen if I opened up, because of how I was burned each time I trusted...  I lived a hollow existence for a very long time, and I have sought to change that and make connections with the people I care about.  It has been very difficult, especially in a far away land where I am very isolated, but I draw strength from my belief in myself, and all of you.

While I am spending Xmas by myself again this year, I am not alone.  I want all of you to have a wonderful Christmas, spend time with your families, loved ones and friends.  Give a toast to them, and maybe one to me.  Someday I will return the favor.

Love
Dale