One day in 1963 my journalism teacher suggested I contact the Houston Chronicle about becoming a stringer, covering high school football. I did. I got the job. That started a relationship with the Chronicle that lasted ten years.

There’s a bracing chill in the air this morning. The trash can was dutifully hauled to the street, and the cats fed. The latter’s dish was on the ground when I went out. a sure sign the raccoons were last to feed. I’ve encountered a possum or two, but raccoons bring families to the diner, and they’re boisterous.

Felt like I could fly yesterday. A bit. Got good news. The old AAA, my abdominal aortic aneurysm, is stable. No signs of leakage or growth.

Normally, when I visit my son no one is up when I get up. So, it’s quiet and I write in silence. This morning everyone is up. The dog has gone out to do it’s business twice. Coffee is being brewed. Conversations are flowing and I’m having a devil of a time concentrating.

Went for another walk through my little town yesterday. Spotted another house for sale. This was by owner. That makes two within two blocks of each other.

I had a good day on the golf course yesterday. I got invited to fill in a foursome. Mostly guys around my age, and older. We played best ball which meant all four of us hit and then we played the best shot.

The full moon is coming. I like full moons. It came to my attention last night. I woke at an early hour and noticed the pasture bathed in soft light.

We built our home in 2009. As with most homes, it has aged. Most particularly, light bulbs have gone out. Usually, it’s an easy repair. The under cabinet lights, however, were another matter.

What I did on the first day of the new year. Talked to a dear friend. Talked to my daughter just home from Maine. Napped in my recliner. Watched a bit of TV. Ate some lunch. Walked down Back Forty road.

The end of the year. Surprising how much importance we attach to it. It’s just a day. In a long line of days. On a planet that is billions of years old.

Once upon a time, we bought a honey baked ham. We ate the ham and cooked the bone in Navy Beans. It was delicious.

The cold still lingers. The days or nice, but the nights are hard and cold. I’m happy to be inside. We’re in that period of time, where the old year lingers as well. Done. A little tired.

So far, I’ve had a brilliant Christmas season and a brilliant Christmas day. I’m sure there’s more to come because this, now, is the twelve days of Christmas and it lasts until January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. So, I can be in the Christmas spirit for at least another ten days, and that feels pretty good.

As always, I’m waiting for the kid to get up. Kid as in one, and he’s not a kid, although to me he’s still about six. In the old days, it was the kids, as in three.

We had a nice family Christmas yesterday although we missed the brother, son, and middle child. He was home ill. We ate, we drank and made merry then swapped presents. It was fun all the way around.

I finally did it. Bought a cheap, hang on the wall, outdoor thermometer. It’s on a porch pole right outside my kitchen window. This morning the little red column of mercury stands at 10. That is shiver my timbers cold.

Spent time wrapping presents yesterday. I need to up my game. I’m good at wrapping presents by family group so that I know which paper goes with what group. But the little touches are missing. Ribbons and bows.

Here’s some news I’ve yet to share. Just down the road from me, they’re building a multi-unit apartment complex. It’s one piece of property over. I can hear the construction vehicles constantly.

Baby, it’s cold outside. Random song line to describe today’s weather. No point really. It just seemed the thing to do. This tendency toward randomness often happens when I get a good night’s sleep and I got one last night.