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Given the endurance contest that passed for a calendar year, we're ready to sit back and applaud the wise folks who have decided to take the next week or so off. 

Anyone left standing at this point is a survivor. The brutal lessons of the last couple of years should give each of pause to reflect on our good fortune. We've learned all about the pain of write-downs, the disappointment engendered by optimistic planning, the difference between work and productivity.

Over the past year, we received thousands of articulate pieces of email (amongst the spam) from readers who took us to task, offered a suggestion our brightened the day with a bit of praise.  Although we didn't always respond, we read and considered each and every note. Thank-you. Keep 'em coming.

This is our ninth Holiday season. As usual, we're reflecting and planning. Most of the readers are doing the same thing. Maybe it's why the darkness comes earlier this time of year.

We want to wish each of our readers a peaceful and hopeful Holiday. You've earned it.

- John Sumser