​All my life I have had a melancholy and sad love affair with New Years Eve. This beautiful melody and lyric by Barry Manilow and Marty Panzer has been my favorite New Years Eve song since I first heard it back in 1977. It tugs at my heart stronger with each passing year. Enjoy and have a safe and wonderful New Years Eve.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
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I have many conflicting emotions caught up inside me on this Christmas Day. Although all situations are different, I can safely assume that everyone reading this feels the same. Our country and the world appear to be in a dangerous state of moral, spiritual, racial, economic, and political decline, the likes that most alive today have never seen. Like a lot of you, I have lost many people, a great deal of money, and most of my work. I won’t lie. I am frightened, but I am choosing to stay positive.

This is the last Christmas of my 50’s, and although it has not been perfect, I will not let the fear of the future defeat me. The sun is shining, there is no cloud in the sky, and there is a crisp Christmas chill in the air. All of my family are alive and well. I am healthy and in good voice with many songs left to sing. So I encourage all of you today to do your best to beat down the negativity, the anger, and the fear. I know it can be very hard. Pick up a large torch of gratitude. Carry it proudly and high. Let it light your way into the coming year with a full heart. May it ignite your courage to believe, work for a better life, and a better world.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Jeff Pike