It is a tradition in my family to toast to absent friends at midnignt on New Year's Eve . . . Tonight, my Mom and I raised a single glass of champagne to those who are absent tonight:
My Dad (October 6, 1928 - January 22, 2000)
I am grateful he did not have to see the destruction of his hometown on 9/11 -- or witness the deaths of so many people he knew and worked with. I am grateful he did not have to see the further destruction of the country he loved and had served, with what passed as the Bush Administration. But oh my, he would have loved this season of Navy football and seeing (a) Navy beat Army for the 8th straight year and (b) Navy win the Texas Bowl with such a stellar performance tonight, 35-13. And how I wish I could have watched the games with him.
Madison the German shepherd (May 22, 1994 - April 3, 2008)
Because NICE is a Daily Kos value.
First Lt. Roslyn L. Schulte
Because she is and was an American heroine.
Molly Ivins.
Because of who she was and what she did; because I was lucky enough to know her; because she was so amazingly generous and kind to me when I was a copy girl at The New York Times and, especially, because she accepted endless telephone calls from my aging, cantankerous grandmother and was so sweet to her. We miss you, dear Molly.
Sarah Foxell, 11
Because we remember you.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy
Bless you, Senator Kennedy.