2012...an amazing year

The past 12 months have been a blur in many respects but they have brought us some incredibly excitng and interesting happenings and events.

Nationally, we have re-elected a president who is facing some very hard challenges for any person.  We have to wish him well...for all our sakes.

The economy is slowly recovering and allowing most of us to breathe a little easier (even while standing on the edge of the cliff).

And our troops are coming home from the middle east...not a minute too soon.

Here in Seattle, we've been running a very fast race.

For most of the year, we've been celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Seattle's Coming-Out party at the '62 World's Fair.

The Space Needle and the Pacific Science Center have both been recognized over and over again for their influences on our city.

Sending someone into space for the Space Needle's 50th made international news.  Who would have ever thought that we would be talking about giving a person like you and me a ride in rocket.

Opening the most comprehensive collection of the works of famed artist Dale Chihuly was a great honor. It is a blazing presentation of color, form and substance.  Such a jaw-dropping experience and success for all involved, especially the city of Seattle.

Then came the Olympics. Working with the organizing committee for over a month was an unbelieveable experience.  Of the 10 Olympiads I've worked on, NONE have been better run than the London event.  Start to finish, it was a winner.

And for 6 more days, King Tut is making his final trip out of Egypt for the people of Seattle.  His stopover at the Pacific Science Center since last spring has broken all records and the Science Center is basking in the glory.

The fireworks around the world have already begun.  Sydney and Auckland started the ball rolling. By the time midnight gets to Seattle, people everywhere except Hawaii will have welcomed the new year.  We need a clean slate.  We need some common sense.  We need a vision of what we can make of 2013 and beyond. Coalescing is not easy but it's very effective.  Never has our world been so small.  Everything we do affects someone else. Let's make the most of it and brighten our future.  Happy New Year.