Dearest FOVI-ites,

I write this to all of you from the Long Beach Airport as I wait at the gate for my flight home for Christmas with my family.  I’ve spent many an hour/day at airports just like this one throughout the year, traversing our great land while resting my head on both coasts from week to week.  I find it difficult to truly accept the reality that an entire year has already come and gone since I began this journey into the hearts, homes, and conflicts (some may even say dysfunctions) of a place known as Genoa City in the form of one David Chow. 

Despite the fact that I’ve made this journey almost weekly, sometimes even twice as much, I can’t help but feel as if it all just flew right by.  I’m also grateful that again, despite the long distance travel, I’ve been able to spend long stretches of quality time with my wife and children on both coasts while fulfilling my obligations on Y & R.  There wasn’t one week throughout that entire time where I wasn’t able to spend time with someone from my immediate family – sometimes bringing my wife and/or one or all of my children out to LA to be with me and to share in the offerings of beautiful California .  In short, we’ve all been able to make the best of this situation and are grateful to know that I was able to secure a job soon after my many year stint on AMC .  Throughout this potentially difficult time of transition I have felt a true sense of being watched over and blessing. 

Regarding this fact, I never want to take for granted that this sense of security comes in large part from the outpouring of affection sent my way from people like you, who not only continue to express kindness and support toward me in your letters and internet messages in such places as my official website and My Space site (hooray Sandy & Inge!!!), but also keep the initial spirit of FOVI alive in your generous donations of many worthy causes.  These acts throughout this past year continue to deeply move me, sometimes even having had the affect of lifting me up during moments of doubt or fatigue. 

Therefore, as I have throughout the many past years, I feel compelled to express my own heart of appreciation toward all of you for your sincere kindness and support, not only for me, but for all who continue to find their hearts and souls warmed by the glow of your kind attention and selfless compassion.  You truly are a unique group of people.  I continue to feel privileged to be associated with you all and sincerely thank you for making my life and those of many others immeasurably better.

Before I close, I want to also thank many of you specifically for the more than generous birthday present you had sent and to let you know that the first thing I bought with it was the DVD series of “Planet Earth,” the documentary made by the BBC about our planet and the life upon it.  I’ve been watching it with my wife and children these past several visits home, and I’m not simply using hyperbole when I say we’ve been truly stunned and blown away by the power and beauty this prized documentary has captured of our awesome planet.  I highly recommend it to all of you, and I’m sure my children would too.   It was a great gift that keeps on giving…thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

In closing I want to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season – Merry Christmas for those who celebrate, happy belated Hanukkah to our dear Jewish friends, Happy Kwanza for those who long for the traditions of their ancestral lands and to celebrate in them – and a blessed New Year in ’08 for all.  A special thanks to Sandy Wetzel, Sandy Strider and the rest of the FOVI team, for once again keeping the spirit of FOVI alive and well…they truly are its soul! 

Lastly, please keep the many men & women in uniform in your prayers throughout the year for their courage and daily sacrifices, sometimes tragically, to the point of supreme sacrifice.  I personally pray that these conflicts will resolve sooner than expected and that they can all come home honorably, having made the world a better place.  They deserve as much…

As myself and in the form of David Chow, (of whom, he is finally beginning to take shape in many surprising and intriguing ways…you’ll see), I hug you all and shower you with my gratitude for another year of your loving support.  I know fully that I wouldn’t be where I am without it.

Blessings to you all,

Vincent