Has it been 25 years already? It seems like just yesterday that a woman with a curious sounding name became a talk-show host and eventually a spiritual leader for millions of daytime TV viewers. Oprah announced in November 2009 that she would end her popular talk show after 25 years. No more Christmas cards from Oprah to her 400 Harpo Studio employees and no more “Aha” moments.

Some people love Oprah so much they can hardly contain it. What will we do without her?

For the past 25 years Oprah has given us so much more than a way to pass the late afternoon hour. She has given us serious political issues, as in 2006 when she invited then Senator Obama onto her show. Within days, he was on the cover of Time magazine with an article listing him as a viable presidential candidate. She gave us “real person” stories that broke your heart and made you cry that “ugly cry”. Then there were celebrities spilling their guts, like Tom Cruise exploding about his love for Katie Holmes in 2005 while jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch, which actually bordered on “craziness”. Oprah lost and gained weight always sharing her struggles with us common folk. Who can forget when she wheeled out a wagon filled with 67 pounds of fat to represent one of her weight losses. Then there was the “You get a car” episode in 2004, when each of her audience members went insane with joy when each got a new car. After that episode, medics were always on hand at her shows just in case audience members fainted.

In 1996, she started Oprah’s Book Club which inspired people to share the joy of reading.

In a 1997 episode, she invited viewers to join her in using their lives to improve the lives of others and launched the Angel Network . Through the generous support of viewers the Angel Network was able to send deserving students to college, build more than 55 schools in 12 countries, provided more than $1 million in school supplies and uniforms to 18,000 impoverished South African children and helped in the recovery efforts of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. These are just a few of the wonderful undertakings of The Angel Network.

She did all of this while she earned billions of dollars, still maintaining her integrity, likability and extremely generous nature.

This is the woman we have grown to admire and love, this is Oprah Gail Winfrey born January 29th, 1954 into poverty in rural Mississippi to a teenage single mother. She rose from humble beginnings, enduring considerable hardship during her childhood to become ranked the richest African American of the 20th century and according to some, the Most Influential Woman in the World!

We will miss you Oprah! We have lived with you for 25 years, there will be an empty spot in our lives so bring on the reruns; I am sure there are a few we could watch forever and ever!

Oprah donated $10,000 to the Lange Foundation after receiving a Christmas card from a dog that was rescued from that shelter.

While it’s true that celebrity Christmas cards are definite conversation starters, there aren’t many worth a cool ten grand. In fact, I only know of one. No, it wasn’t a 14 karat gold-plated holiday wish, or a diamond-encrusted piece of cardboard (although I can think of a few famous stars who would probably buy Christmas cards with just those features). Actually, the card in question was sent to the celebrity – by a dog!

Who in the world is likely to receive a Christmas card from a non-human friend? None other than Oprah Winfrey. Can I just go on the record as a full-fledged lover of Oprah?!? I grew up watching The Oprah Winfrey Show and have been there through all of the hair styles and clothing trends. I’ve laughed, and I’ve cried. I’ll even confess to having her old-school 1980s theme song as a ring tone on my phone! But enough about me.

Over the years, Oprah has aired many shows about topics that make you stop and think about the world around you. A philanthropist if there ever was one, she has perfected a way to use her super-mogul powers for good, even in the face of naysayers.

Last year, Oprah did a show on puppy mills. You may be aware that the conditions that many dogs live in at some of these mills is atrocious – and if you didn’t know that, seek out this episode, as Lisa Ling takes video cameras to the scene of what can certainly be described as a despicable way to run a business. Dog and animal lovers nationwide listened up when the guests on the show pointed out how much better it is for all involved when someone adopts a pet from a shelter.

Anyway, back to the $10,000 Christmas card. Oprah received what she said was her favorite Christmas card in 2007 – from an old, blind cocker spaniel who had been rescued from a no-kill shelter called The Lange Foundation. This was a true dog’s eye view – written from the perspective of the dog, who would normally get passed over for a healthy, cute puppy but had somehow been lucky enough to be adopted by a kind, caring owner! The adoption was made in honor of Oprah Winfrey, which is not surprising, as she is a long-time dog lover who has owned several cocker spaniels over the years.

Oprah was so moved by the gesture that she donated $10,000 to The Lange Foundation. Now, if that isn’t a celebrity Christmas card worth every penny, I don’t know what is!