Christmas Thanks

Perhaps even more than Thanksgiving, for me Christmas is a time of gratitude and thoughtfulness. More than a dozen family members are descending upon Portland from around the country and I am honored and touched that they would leave their lives, friends, and other family members back home to make the trek out West.

And with the holiday parties and Christmas cards arriving, I have especially been thinking about the handful of mentors I've been blessed with in my life. Starting with my first "real" job out of college, I've had the incredible good fortune of working with the most amazing, brilliant, and nurturing group of (mostly) women anyone could hope for. They've taken me under their wings and given me two incredibly important gifts. First, the strength and courage to "leap and the net will appear." And second, the perspective to stand back and know what's truly most important at the end of the day--family, friends, and relationships.

Thank you all. I hope some day I'm able pass these same gifts on in a way that honors your friendship.

Merry Christmas everyone.