As long as I can remember I have love Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. Watched all the specials: The Great Pumpkin, A Charlie Brown Christmas, you name it. I still think a little wispy evergreen is a beautiful thing. When I was in Junior High or Middle School as they call it now my close circle of friends all had Peanuts nicknames. I was Charlie Brown.

The things I recall about the Charlie Brown character were his loyalty to friends, his good heart, his love for his dog (Snoopy) and his always trying to do better, though often falling prey to inability to decide or an apparent issue with fear of failure and fear of rejection. I guess that would identify me pretty closely at least the majority of my life.

There is a freedom that comes both with age and loss. The illusions are gone. I know who I am and the good part of Charlie Brown remains intact. I am quicker now to draw boundaries and not let the Lucy Van Pelts of the world run over me or diminish me. I am not inept, I am, however, cautious and optimistic that good is on the way and it has my name written all over it. No more Good Grief! or ARH! It's a new day and I'm ready for whatever God has for me.