You go girl!

Note: There are few Texans I admire more than Jim Hightower and Molly Ivins. As 2006 draws to a close, I'd like to just take a second to express my very best wishes to them both, but especially the latter of these two, Molly Ivins, newspaper columnist and political commentator.

For the past month or so, Molly's column in our local paper has not appeared. Recently I learned why. Molly Ivins is on a leave of absence for treatment of her cancer.

Ivins was originally diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in 1999. It recurred in 2003 and 2005. I was very saddened to learn she was once more undergoing treatment for it these past several weeks. Cancer is a terrifying foe, but I take encouragement that Molly Ivins, besides being a personal hero of mine, is a real fighter.

It is my sincerest hope Molly Ivins is battling this like she's battled destructive forces all her life and that she will return sometime next month as our newspaper has promised. I deeply, and dearly, appreciate people like Molly Ivins and truly believe we wouldn't be in the mess we find ourselves were there more reporters like her doing the job she does.

Happy New Year, Molly! My very best thoughts go out to you!