Publisher's Clearing House Revelation

I used to think that Publisher's Clearing House was going to knock on my door...... 'think' probably isn't a strong enough word, it was more like know. Ed McMahon was at my door, spotlights glaring, with the flowers and envelope in hand, followed by his camera crew and men that I can only assume were attorneys... I mean they are dressed the part. Thoughts of this inevitable greeting filled my mind, for many an hour, supplying me with an ever abundant, albeit fictitious, sense of future happiness.

Ed McMahon has passed, as have the delusions of this magical encounter. In this season of giving I thought it fitting to share with you my Publisher's Clearing House Revelation. It seemed that Ed McMahon had become my adult Santa, the hope and dream of the big gift, that one life- changing delivery. The Atari of my youth had somehow evolved into a million dollar check.... if you're going to dream, dream big right?

I am not sure if it was Ed's appearance with MC Hammer in the Gold for Cash commercial that got me thinking, or the general economic malaise of 2009, but I began to see that life's lasting gifts do not come in lump sum checks. There is no prize patrol that will come knocking on your door with a huge check delivered by some guy with blindingly white teeth, smiling from ear to ear as the flashbulbs pop.

Some of the biggest gifts I have received come in moments. Time spent around the campfire talking about nothing and yet everything with my kids. The simple text of 'How r u doing' when I'm on the road. (Would it kill Jordan to call?) The fact that both my kids still want to hug me, and for that matter, let me tuck them in most every night. Or even that admiring glance my wife gives me now and then, even though I know that I get a little shorter and a little wider each year.

These intangible memories or mental pictures fuel my existence. It isn't about the million dollar pay out, but more- so the memories of fleeting moments that you neatly stack in the back of your mind to pull out when you need to warm your heart, firewood for the soul perhaps. I wish I could send everyone that reads this a million dollars, but it doesn't look likely this year.... next year is probably not looking that good either. What I can hopefully leave you with is the wish that you come to realize the little gifts we are given every day.