He lifted the blue enameled coffee pot from the top of the pot-bellied stove. ‘Coffee is all I have. But it’s hot and it’s good in this cold weather.’ He poured coffee in three tin cups.”
–Vivian Sinclair (A Western Christmas)
Pard, things are movin’ fast. The end of the year is fastly approachin’, Christmas is comin’ upon us fast, time and age seems to be hittin’ us at a faster rate. The only thing that doesn’t seem to be any faster is the time it takes for this coffee to perk and yur waddlin’ across the kitchen to get yur cup. However, the way yur guzzlin’ it down, I’ll soon have to be makin’ another pot.
I’m not even lookin’ at the next year yet. That’s one thing about bein’ retired, I don’t have to live by a calendar, ‘ceptin’ for doctor’s appointments. Boy howdy, Pard, they get yuh comin’ and goin’. Maybe not a monthly calendar, but I do try to keep a daily list of things to be a-doin’. Don’t usually get them all done, but they’re there in front of me for the next day. Pard, we, even in our later years need to be plannin’ ahead knowin’ that each day is in the Lord’s hands. Somedays the starter’s gettin’ harder to start, but I’m still up most days by 5:30 to make the coffee and send out a greetin’.
This mornin’ ‘fore yuh showed up the words of that song written by that ol’ puncher R.W. Hampton came to my mind. “No it’s not the cold wind I’m thinking about a baby boy and a long long ago Christmas night.” Was it cold that Christmas so many years ago? Did the wind moan through the trees, or was it still, almost too quiet, waitin’ for the angels to burst forth in chorus? Were the shepherds dozin’ on their watch? Were the wise men havin’ trouble with their camels on their trek from the East? Did Joseph have to build a small fire in the stable to keep Mary and the baby Jesus warm, or was the night warm and muggy? Hmpf, one thing I doubt they had an’ that was a pot of coffee. From what I’m tolt it hadn’t been discovered yet.
Sure nice to be home for Christmas. “There’s no place like home for the holidays…” Pard, since yuh done drunk up all the coffee, guess it’s time to be wrappin’ this up for this Saturday. Shore glad yuh stopped by an’ don’t be frettin’ ’bout time catchin’ up with yuh, that’s a certainty. Yuh can’t outrun it, yuh just have to be ready for when it does. Walk hand-in-hand with the Lord, have a joyous week before Christmas, an’ as always, don’t forget to check yur cinch.
Vaya con Dios.