What's really important

"You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down." Know what movie that's from? It's probably right on the tip of your tongue. Click here for the answer.

I remember seeing that movie in 6th grade during an all school assembly on the last day before our class would go on break for the holidays. At the time, the meaning of the movie wasn't clear. To be honest with you, I saw the movie as an excuse to break from the monotony of 8 hour lesson in focus called school.

Fast forward to my adult years and this movie reentered my life in the form of a holiday tradition in Laura's family. Her family would assemble up in the north woods for a weekend of cheer. It was a time to eat delectables only prepared once a year. It was also a time to get caught up on relative gossip, marvel at the growth of the little tykes and just "be together."

Every year, like clock-work, after the dishes were done and those under 4 years old were in bed, Laura's Dad, Dave, would reach for the VHS copy of It's a Wonderful Life. For the next 3 hours we'd watch the adventures of George Bailey as he would figure out what really mattered in life. For those three hours and the days that past, our lives would be filled with the hope that we could see through all of the fuzz that cloud our minds and truly live for what's really important...friends and family.