What a difference a year makes...

A recent Christmas card from friends we haven't seen since last Christmas has given me pause, and time to reflect a bit on how precious, and fleeting, time is.

The card was simple and festive, just as they always are, and started with a typical "This year has seen lots of change..." opening.

But what was shockingly different was the continuation of "... as Rob and I separated...."

Pardon me?

These are friends who, like us, were married for 12+ years and last year's card talked about what a wonderful year and exciting family life they were having.

Twelve months.

Sometimes it's hard to realize just how long a year is. While most of the time my plans are no further reaching than three months ahead, I still take for granted that most of what I know today will still be valid 12 short months from now.

Of course, I'm usually wrong.

Obviously this started me thinking about my own family and what traumatic events could ever split us up.

Let's be frank, my wife can do some things that drive me to complete and utter aggravation. And I know I do the same to her. And there are times when we have some arguments for the ages when I'm sure we both have fleeting thoughts of how easy life would be if the other person just vanished in a glorious puff of smoke - poof!

And let's not lie to each other - there are also those times I fantasize about Sandra Bullock or Heidi Klum too. C'mon, I'm human...

But for the life of me I can't imagine ever being able to live with anyone for more than a few weeks except my wife. And I can't imagine not having my kids, as rowdy as they are, underfoot every minute of the day. I can't imagine being part of another family - much less not being a part of mine.

And I'm sure this was true of our friends just one year ago.

How can a single year produce such a dramatic change?

It's hard to fathom, but 2005 has truly opened my eyes to doubting that anything will ever be the same 12 months later.

Look at everything that has changed in the past 12 months and you should agree. From the tsunami, to Katrina, to the Pakistan earthquake, to avian flu, to Plamegate, to Sandra Day O'Connor, to Harriet Meirs, to an administration out of control, to an absence of a Democratic Party, to the loss of American Ideals, to the allowing of torture as American policy...

Wow, what a difference a year makes.

Someday, maybe that will be a good a thing...