Gary V. Powell, Author

I don't usually send out those letters inside our Christmas card that tells the recipient what happened to the family over the course of the year. Not that I don't think it's a nice touch. The truth is you meet a lot of people on your journey through life, some of whom you like more than others, some of whom you keep in closer touch with than others, so the annual letter along with the Christmas card actually makes sense. Rather than send the letter out iin the card, I thought I'd just post it here and anyone who wants to read it can.

All in all, 2006 was a pretty good year for us.

• In 2006, Mary and I completed the 10th year of being in business for ourselves. Most small businesses fail within 3-5 years, so I think we've done a reasonably good job of figuring out how to make CenterG, Inc. work. This year our work touched Northwestern Mutual Life, AHIP, Cannon Financial, Ken Kalis, Inc., Sunlife, Bank of America, RegEd, and GoldmanSachs, Evergreen Financial, and Wachovia. Not a bad client list for a two-person business that specializes in the design and development of custom training for financial services companies.
• In 2006, Mary continued her important work with the League of Women Voters and has been especially active in coordinating and teaching a very successful class in local government for both adults and high schoolers. Mid-year she was asked to serve on the board of United Family Services and is just beginning her tenure there.We're very proud of the time Mary donates to both of these valuable organizations. Somehow, Mary also found time and energy to raise a wonderful garden--no doubt the most admired in the neighborhood--as well as the time to pursue her interest in sewing. All of the nephews and nieces receved a custom-made outfit from Aunt Mary.
• In 2006, I had several short stories published. One of my stories, Boat to Build, was a finalist in the Briar Cliff Review fiction contest. I attended one excellent writer's workshop--the Novels in Progress conference in Louisville and a mediocre conference, SEAK's Fiction Writing for Lawyers, on Cape Cod. All in all, I know a lot more about the publishing business than I did a year ago and am well positioned to market my completed novel, Pointe of Contention, in 2007. I made significant progress on two other novels in 2006 and expect to complete both of them in 2007. I've continued to work on my culinary skills. A Christmas Dinner that will feature lobster, Mario Batalli's "Crazy Water" soup, and a standing rib roast is the culmination of several years of practice.
• In 2006, five year-old Reilly graduated pre-school and began kindergarten at Cornelius Elementary. He's really missed his buddies Matt and Zach and we know they've missed him, too. But all of them have moved onto to different venues and all are doing well. Reilly is learning to read and write and count and add and subtract. He's very creative and articulate and can be intensely determined. Mary says he reminds of her someone else she knows. Reilly continues to be active in gymnastics, although we're considering a father-son class in tae kwan do after the first of the year.
• In 2006, we supported my 19 year-old daughter Ashley through a difficult year that saw her convicted of a cocaine possession charge, a discharge from college for drinking and academic failure, and a DWI charge and cocaine overdose. She's in rehab now and has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder in addition to the ADHD she suffered from. We're hopeful that the new diagnoses and treatment will help her get her life straightened out. We're hopeful that she'll be able to receive minimum sanctions for her criminal violations. All in all, we're thankful Ashley made it through another year alive.
• In 2006, we had some good visits with family. Mary's family was here in March and worked hard to put in two new garden beds on the north side of the house. My sister Connie was here in a April and helped Mary select plantings for the new beds. My dad was here in July and we were able to celebrate his 75th birthday with him. In September, we made a quick trip to Elkhart to see grandma and grandpa Powell. In October, Mary's sister Jen and fher amily were here for a week. Reillly had a great visit with his cousiins Brendan and Nora. Mary's folks and brother Mike were back here in November.
• In 2006, Mary and I managed to get in a trip to St. Lucia. It was our first vacation alone together  in 12 years of marrige. It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect. Although we work together, raise a family together, and run a household together, it's amazing how renewing it was to have that week together between the Pitons in the Caribean.
• In 2006, with everything else going on, we still managed to keep in touch with old friends in Bloomington and Elkhart and with new friends in Cornelius and Charlotte. We spent a lot of time on our boat in Lake Norman and attended two Robert Earl Keen concerts as well as a Bobcat's game and a Panther's game. We drank a lot of good wine and spent some wonderful summer evenings out on our screen porch and overlooking the lake from the Yacht Club.

Overall, it's been a good year.

Merry Christmas from the family.