The Christmas List

A
fter penning more than a dozen books I'm afraid that my thank you list has become a bit redundant, but my feelings of gratitude have not. I am most appreciative of these people who I have had the pleasure and honor of associating with:

Laurie Liss, Sydny Miner, David Rosenthal,
Carolyn Reidy, Gypsy da Silva, Fred Chase

My personal and Christmas Box House team

Lisa V. Johnson, Barry James Evans, Miche Nicole Barbosa, Diane Elizabeth Glad, Heather McVey, Judy Schiffman, Karen Christoffersen, Karen Roylance, Lisa McDonald, Sherri Engar, Doug Smith, and Barbara Thompson.

The Christmas Box International Board

Pat Berckman, Estelle Dahlkemper, Judy Schiffman, Ken Deyhle, Patrice Archibald, Randi Escobar, Kay Dea, Shelly Tripp, Sterling Tanner, Les Moore, Ann Foxley, Lee Farmer, Jean Nielsen, and Mike Olsen.

Special Friends

Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe, David Parker, Christopher Pair

And, not least, The home team

Keri, Jenna and David Welch, Allyson-Danica, Abigail Hope, McKenna Denece, Richard Michael, and our bulgy-eyed dog: Bello

I am very proud of (and grateful for) my new writing assistant, my daughter, Jenna Evans Welch. Well done, girl. Thank you for your insight. You make me proud.

My love and appreciation to all of you.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Dear Reader,

When I was in seventh grade my English teacher, Mrs. Johnson, gave our class the intriguing (if somewhat macabre) assignment of writing our own obituaries. Oddly, I don't remember much of what I wrote about my life, but I do remember how I died: in first place on the final lap of the Daytona 500. At the time I hadn't considered writing as an occupation, a field with a remarkably low on-the-job casualty rate.

What intrigues me most about Mrs. Johnson's assignment is the opportunity she gave us to confront our own legacy. How do we want to be remembered? That question has motivated our species since the beginning of time: from building pyramids to putting our names on skyscrapers.

As I began to write this book I had two objectives: First, I
wanted to explore what could happen if someone read their obituary before they died and saw, firsthand, what the world really thinks of them. Their legacy.

Second, I wanted to write a Christmas story of true redemption. One of my family's holiday traditions is to see a local production of Charles Dickens's
A Christmas Carol.
I don't know how many times I've seen it (perhaps a dozen) but it still thrills me to see the change that comes over Ebenezer Scrooge as he transforms from a dull, tight-fisted miser into a penitent, “giddy-as-a-schoolboy” man with love in his heart. I always leave the show with a smile on my face and a resolve to be a better person. That's what I wanted to share with you, my dear readers, this Christmasâa holiday tale to warm your seasons, your homes, and your hearts.

Merry Christmas,

Richard

Memo

To: James Kier

From: Linda Nash

Re: The list you requested

Here is the list you requested; the names are in no particular order. Attached is a paragraph about each individual and their relationship to you. I wish you well in your quest, and hope you accomplish what you desire.

Celeste Hatt

Eddie Grimes

Estelle and Karl Wyss

David Carnes

Gary Rossi

P.S. Merry Christmas.

CHAPTER
One