All day the news is reflective and somber. It is, after all, the day so many people senselessly lost their lives to terrorism. After sharing moments of silence this morning... I was notified of a reason to smile and rejoice today.

Yes, life is full of positives and negatives, yin and yang, night and day, light and darkness... Today I rejoice the birth of my son's son. He is born healthy and we are all elated at this even on this day of somber memories. He is born today just as many others born on this day to celebrate the fact that life continues and is wonderful.

Those who lost their lives on that fate 9/11 6 years ago left children and families that now reflect but must also embrace and rejoice in life in order to move on. I watched earlier today the son of one of the victims. He has embraced life and is empowering others coping with sudden loss (not just 9/11 victim families) to grow and achieve their dreams. His non-profit organization is called holdthedoor.com.

I reflect on all those who coping with sudden loss. I also remember my own father who working one day and passed that night from an unannounced heart attack. Not an act of terrorism yet a sudden personal attack affecting my family's world. Sudden loss quietly affects many people so organizations like "holdthedoor.com" are a blessing.

Truly we should all "hold the door open for someone else". Helping others helps ourselves and I believe that is exactly what Ronald Fazio Jr has discovered through his non profit organization  created in the memory of his father who lost his life that tragic day. Truly Ronald Fazio Sr was a great man that helped shape this young man who is now empowering others with positive resources and opportunities. I reflect on this father and son.

Today mother and child are happy and healthy. Today my son holds his new born son. Their future is uncertain yet today is full of sunshine and hope. I pray that God blesses this new family with happiness.

Today I reflect and rejoice.

Today, Johnny Carson premiered as the new host of The Tonight Show. His first late-night guests included Joan Crawford, Tony Bennett and Mel Brooks. This would mark the beginning of a new era in talk show popularity.

"Carson, who was selected by NBC to succeed Jack Paar as permanent host of the late-night show, moves over from ABC-TV, where he was emcee of 'Who Do You Trust?' Making the same switch will be announcer Ed McMahon who replaces Hugh Downs," the Oakland Tribune reported on October 2, 1962.

As host, Carson's witty personality and style influenced the TV show, and viewers tuned in for the laughs. In 1972, ten years after Carson took over, newspapers reported that The Tonight Show was NBC's biggest moneymaker. Carson hosted the show for 30 years until Jay Leno took over in 1992.

Born: 23-Oct-1925
Birthplace: Corning, IA
Died: 23-Jan-2005
Location of death: Malibu, CA
Cause of death: Emphysema

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Talk Show Host

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Longtime host of Tonight Show

Military service: US Navy (1943-46)

As a boy, Carson taught himself magic tricks, and he started in show business as a magician ("The Great Carsoni"). He later worked as a radio voice, game show host, and comedy writer for The Red Skelton Show. When Jack Paar quit The Tonight Show, Carson got the gig, and asked Paul Anka to write a theme song; instead Anka submitted "It's Really Love", a tune several years old that hadn't been a hit, and it became Carson's theme.

Carson hosted the Oscar telecast four times. His autobiography appeared in 1965, Happiness Is a Dry Martini. Ed McMahon was Carson's sidekick dating back to ABC's late-1950's game show, Who Do You Trust?

When the far less funny Jay Leno took over The Tonight Show in 1993, Carson largely vanished from public sight. Videos culled from his Tonight Show years are still hawked on TV, and for years after his retirement he would give his friend David Letterman material to use on-air, which Letterman would punctuate with a golf swing.

Father: Homer R. Carson (known as Kit, d.)
Mother: Ruth Hook Carson (d. 1985)
Brother: Richard Carson (TV director)
Sister: Catherine
Wife: Joan Morrill Wolcott ("Jody", b. 1926, m. 1949, div. 1963, three sons)
Son: Christopher Carson (b. 1950)
Son: Richard Carson (b. 1952, d. Jun-1991 car accident)
Son: Cory Carson (b. 1953)
Wife: Joanne Copeland (b. 1932, m. 1963, div. 1972)
Wife: Joanna Holland (b. 1941, m. 30-Sep-1972, div. 8-Mar-1983)
Wife: Alexis Mass (b. 1950, m. 20-Jun-1987)

    High School: Norfolk High School, Norfolk, NE (1943)
    University: Millsaps College, Jackson, MS
    University: BA Radio and Speech, University of Nebraska at Lincoln (1947-49)

    4-H Club
    Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity
    Presidential Medal of Freedom 1992
    Kennedy Center Honor 1993
    Peabody 1986
    Emmy 1976 for The Tonight Show
    Emmy 1977 for The Tonight Show
    Emmy 1978 for The Tonight Show
    Emmy 1979 for The Tonight Show
    Emmy 1992 for The Tonight Show
    Hollywood Walk of Fame 1751 Vine St. (television)
    Endorsement of RCA 1965
    Driving While Intoxicated driving a DeLorean, 1982
    Heart Bypass Operation (quadruple) Mar-1999
    Ordained by the Universal Life Church Minister
    Asteroid Namesake 3252 Johnny
    Risk Factors: Smoking, Alcoholism

    TELEVISION
    The Tonight Show Host (1962-92)