I hope you all had a wonderful holiday -- whatever you choose to celebrate -- and a terrific New Year´s celebration. I myself have returned to the place where my mother spent her formative years: Mar del Plata, Argentina. It was my mom's 50th high school reunion, so the whole family joined her for a rare group holiday. As a kid and young adult, I spent a lot of time here. In fact, my two oldest friends are from Mar del Plata, despite the obvious challenges presented by distance and ever-changing circumstances. There were others, no less loved, with whom …