On the Road Again

          The Christmas season is upon us once again.  Seems like time passes by faster and faster every year.  Maybe the advancement of age has something to do with that.  Anyway, looking around to see people scurry for the latest deal or that one perfect present makes me realize how selfish humanity has become.  In cases such as this, Christmas ought to come around every day.  And let's not forget what the holiday is all about.  It is (Jesus) Christ-mas!!!  The King of kings came to save us from the wrath of God.  As a result, we ought to give freely of ourselves every day.
          I ended up with four days off for the holiday this week.  Of course the store is closed for Christmas, and I'm usually off on Wednesdays.  In addition, I asked for time off to celebrate my 45th birthday on Thursday.  To have Monday off was simply a bonus as the owners were planning to work only until 6 p.m.  To maximize the opportunity, I left Fort Worth early Monday morning, around 5:15 a.m., and promptly headed for the Yoakum area.  On the way to visit family, I decided to take a different route than normal.  U.S. Highway 77 takes me right through Cameron, where a dear friend lives.  Meeting his wife and three children for the first time was such a blessing.  We chatted for about thirty to forty-five minutes, and then I was on the road again.  The next destination was Westside Cemetery in Yorktown.  Rain was in the forecast for the remainder of the week; as a result, I wanted to take care of all my outdoor endeavors.  The family plots have not been well-kept.  My sister and I keep talking about having a family work day at the cemetery, but we have yet to do so.  In spite of the disrepair, I did take more than a few photos in addition to paying my respects.  Departing Yorktown, I took a few final pictures of a military memorial on the edge of town.  By 1:45 p.m., I was finally in Yoakum to visit Mom.  We are not an exciting bunch, but any time spent with family is welcomed and appreciated.  The icing on the day was to attend the Christmas Eve service at her church.  There were a few faces I recognized; however, the vast majority were strange to me.  That didn't keep me from meeting people for the first time.
          Merry Christmas!!  With the first day off behind me, I am now looking forward to day number two.  We shall see what the day beholds.  Don't forget the reason behind the season.

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