January is setting itself up to let us know it’s winter here in Texas. I’ve started the column early just in case we lose power. In the back of my mind, I’m telling myself if I lose power then perhaps the paper will as well. Never-the-less, I’m writing. As I look out my windows at my winter bare trees, I can see the wind has picked up. My poor trees are doing some powerful shivering. I, on the other hand, am sitting here with a hot fire spreading heat throughout the house. I haven’t checked the rain gauge, but I’m quite sure we have enough rain to make a mess when it freezes. I know a whole school of kids who are hoping we will have snow and will have to miss school for a day or two. Hope is eternal.
Due to the weather, the Preservation Society cancelled their Sunday luncheon. It has been moved to Sunday, February 15th. I hope that we will have an outstanding crowd. It has been a while since the last luncheon and there are quite a few community members I haven’t seen in town. Come one, come all, and visit with your neighbors near and far.
Next week is STAAR preparation at the Region XV center in San Angelo. All teachers in the region teaching science in fifth grade, eighth grade and Biology are invited to attend and learn where TEA and the STAAR plan to take us. I may be out of date, but I never had to learn about genetics and the codon codes in high school. I don’t even remember it from my college days. I’m learning new material so that I can instruct my students. I think they should learn genetics and anatomy, but I’m not positive about the acquisition of codon codes and protein synthesis. My opinion does not carry enough weight to move the bar.
Depending upon the weather, the junior high boys have a basketball game against Lometa at home on the 29th. They will have another game on February 5 against Cherokee at Cherokee.
I’ve been amazed at the lack of traffic on the roads. There’s always drivers who either must go to work or drivers who think they can drive in any weather because they have four-wheel drive. Ice does not respect fourwheel drive. Try to throw out some crumbs and seeds for the birds, they are struggling with this freeze.
Please pray for all the homeless and powerless to remain safe without heat. There is another cold front coming next week, so we may have a fee days to prepare. Pray for peace around the world and especially in Minnesota. Pray for wisdom in the rhetoric that is being used. Peaceful assembly is a Constitutional right; violence is not. Please, Lord, keep our law enforcement men and women safe. Stay warm, stay safe and be wise when you go outside. Most of all, pray for our troops and their families.