The 87th session of the Texas Legislature opened Tuesday with COVID-19 encompassing every aspect of what the lawmakers do, according to new House Speaker Dade Phelan. “COVID, obviously, it will be a blanket over the entire session,” Phelan told his hometown TV station, KFDM Channel 6, in Beaumont.

In summer, I’ve been known to lament rarely getting out of my work clothes---except to shower, sleep, and don fresh things each morning. In summers past, I managed to class up the act and put on my game face at least a few times a week---for movie nights at the Cliftex, religious services, perhaps something at the BAC and maybe a drive to Waco for an appointment or some retail therapy. It’s a wellknown fact that if a woman hits her hometown all dressed up, she won’t run into a soul she knows. But if she tries to sneak in looking like hell, it’s a freakin’ high school reunion. This is such a time-honored, universal truth that had to showcase it in the Ranch Tails comic strip.

Gov. Greg Abbott and It’s a new year, but the news out of the capital continues to focus on COVID-19.

During these last nine months of social distancing, I’ve been getting up, dealing with my wild hair--- though it’s under a hat every day for outside chores--- and putting on a lick and a promise of makeup. It might be silly to keep up with such relatively unimportant things, but I have to look at this face, even if it’s just an occasional glimpse in a mirror. And Zack can’t avoid seeing me either.

Are you ready for 2020 to end? Between COVID and the effect it’s had on the economy to shutdowns and a highly unusual election that split families down the middle, I sure am ready for a new year to begin.

Gov. Greg Abbott and other Texas leaders are rolling up their sleeves to get the COVID-19 vaccine and to encourage the public to follow suit.

This might be a rather strange holiday piece, but here goes; I was thinking the other day about folks who might not be having a Hallmark Greeting Card kind of holiday season. I’m not talking about the truly destitute in terribly dire straits, although there’s plenty of that in this so-called Land of Plenty, especially with the pandemic--- and not only at holiday time. I was thinking about those of us who are doing OK, but for one reason or another just won’t be having a giggly, goofy, riotous holiday season full of travel, gifts and endless party invitations---like we see on TV and in movies. You start to think if you aren’t doing those things that there’s something wrong with you or your life. Well, it isn’t so!

It’s hard to believe Christmas is only two days away, so I want to personally take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy holiday. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Channukah or Kwanzaa, it is a time to celebrate not only the true meaning of the holiday, but to also celebrate family, friends and the traditions that make these December days so special.

When the Texas Legislature convenes Jan. 12, a key question is how the public will have access to their lawmakers during the pandemic.