Several days after the snow blanketed all slates possible in Central and North Texas, as if presaging a welcome clean start for 2021, I noticed that the front of Mrs. R’s house was still featuring some white patches stubbornly profiting from the prolonged shadows hanging from the north side of the house. On that count, I decided to stop by and visit.

When I obtain a new appliance or machine, I may stare at it a few weeks until I get up the nerve/courage--- and find the time- -- to even open the box. It seems a whole new skill set’s required for each additional purchase. Especially when they don’t include clear--- or any---instructions that can be viewed without a microscope. Intuitive these days, I’m apparently not.

The rate of COVID-19 vaccine administration is slowly increasing in Texas as we enter the second full month of shots going into arms. The Texas Department of State Health Services last weekend reported that about 1.6 million Texans — overwhelmingly frontline health workers, people over 65 or those with chronic health conditions — have received the first dose. Just over 400,000 are fully vaccinated. The state has received 3.16 million doses so far; nearly half remain to be administered. Texas ranks near the bottom in per-capita doses administered when compared to other states, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

What a year. We’ve all had ‘em. This has nothing to do with Corona virus! Every few years--- most recently more frequently--- we have a seemingly unending spate of breakdowns and failures of machinery and equipment. Sometimes this involves breakdowns of our own “physical plants”. So far, none mental. But would we know if we had them?

Texas House and Senate leaders appear to agree on their proposed budgets. Next, they just have to figure out how to cut $7.2 billion.

Most of us needed that snow day last week. That magical stuff, if only for a short time, restored and revived us, blanketed our world, cushioned concerns over pandemics and politics. Zack and I each experienced this much snow and more during our individual sojourns in northern states. But during childhoods in Central Texas, we only remember one snowfall to rival this one.

The Texas Legislature opened quietly, which delighted everyone after the violence inside the U.S. Capitol the previous week.

Well, Zack’s done it again. It seems we can’t get through a season without at least one visit to the ER. On December 26, we were painting the farmhouse---finally. Some old wood had rotted. Zack cut and installed replacement boards. There was a little square hole where things came together at a corner, and he headed into the shop to cut another piece of wood with his table saw.

Upon returning to the office from a client visit a few days before Thanksgiving, I was greeted by our dear Mrs. P with what sounded like a warning. Fully aware of our company’s policy to have our office staff provide our caregivers all the support they requested, Mrs. P reported to me that she thought she had broken the pledge that afternoon by admonishing a colleague with unusual impatience, “bordering on a complete lack of empathy and courtesy” she confessed as if anticipating a reprimand.