For many years, whether in Shreveport, Atlanta or Texas, Thanksgiving has always been a very busy day of work, but that’s okay.   It’s good work.   Today I photographed two events, Georgetown’s Turkey Trot, from the Georgetown square, with 950 entrants this year.   Rather than people with turkey hats, I’m going a different direction with two photos.  The first, a disabled Army veteran with his wife after completing his 5-mile run.   Two years ago, Michael had hip-replacement surgery, but his years of service left many other bits of pain, too.  I think it’s cool he’s so dedicated.   The other photo from the race shows two brothers completing their race.  The brother in front has Cerebral Palsy.  His brother was right behind him, showing his support.   The final two photos were taken at Georgetown’s Community Thanksgiving, an event where anyone could get a free meal just for being here.   Close to the time when the meal was ending, Hoppy came in, seeing me first and asking if he’d missed everything.   I took him to the kitchen, where even though things were being put away, they made plates for Hoppy and a friend.  Hoppy is homeless, but is getting help from the community.  One such helper is a Georgetown police officer, an amazing person.   “She’s been helping me,” Hoppy explained.  That friend I mentioned is also homeless.   She didn’t want to come inside, but Hoppy took one to her.   She didn’t want to be photographed.   I respected her wishes.   She has enough going on without my interference.   Happy Thanksgiving, friends. 

Last night, driving home from an errand, this little house was abundantly-decorated with Christmas lights.    The photo is just a snapshot, but it caused me to recall  something from the Atlanta days, during my time  at the Atlanta Journal & Constitution.  A man who lived in North Atlanta reached out to me with a request, not one meant for publication.    He didn’t go into details, but suffice it to say that his wife was terminal, spending her final time on the planet,  unable to get around so well.   She did, however, love the lights of Christmas.   Her husband decided to cover the couple’s large property with lights, not just on the house, but all over the extensive grounds.   People could see easily see them  when passing through  this neighborhood of very high-end homes.    The person who couldn’t see it was the lady clinging to life  inside the house.   Would I be willing to visit there  and photograph every bit of the light display?  Not for publication in the AJC, but for an audience of one.  I readily agreed, turning over the files for him to have printed as he wished.   I hope the images brought her some peace.

I often hear folks remark that holiday light displays are tacky, not really what the season is about.  They don’t like that decorations go up earlier every year.  But here’s the thing, friends.   Sometimes, when you’re feeling low, those lights can be just the boost you need.   You don’t have to be Christian to appreciate them, either.   If they bring a smile to someone’s face, what’s the harm?   

One of the days, I’ll actually have a plan on these wandering drives around the prairie, but I do what I do.  Sometimes it works out, sometimes not.   Last night was beginning to feel like a “not”  when the night sky, rippling and rolling clouds, the Waxing Gibbous moon floating in and out of sight, made me feel a wee bit better.  Of course, in order to enhance what I saw, a place with less light pollution was needed.  So I drove east for a while, coming to a stop at a place where I could pull out the tripod and not be concerned about being mowed down by motor vehicles.   Perhaps 45 minutes was spent  on these images.    Although a bit cold, when I’m in the zone, it doesn’t seem to matter.    Thirty minutes into the session, a car pulled in, turning off its lights.   My guess?   A young couple looking for some privacy!   No worries, kids.   I didn’t even think about you being there.  Of course, when finally packing up the gear, my guess is there was a little silent applause inside that car.   All’s good on the prairie, friends.

My rambling got a late start Sunday, resulting in staying close to home.    I drove a couple of miles to downtown Taylor, stopping at Second and Main Streets.   The viaduct that passes over the train tracks has always been interesting so I spent some time on that, also observing (as seen in the opening photo) the  vintage structure on the southwest corner, here since 1883.    I do wish someone would find the funds to renovate it.  It has character.   As I was close to leaving last night, three young folks approached.  One, holding a skateboard, asked me  how the traffic was on the viaduct.  “Pretty steady,” I replied.   The young man was interested in doing a bit of skating there.  My suggestion: don’t do it.   As I packed up my tripod and started to leave, however, there he was, trudging up the hill.   Sure enough, there he rolled, his friends videotaping the ride.   I wouldn’t have done it, but hey, I’m 66.     The last photo is our statue of Mr. Bill Pickett, a Taylor native who created the rodeo sport we call bulldogging.   On my daily walks, I pass Mr. Pickett’s likeness.  Most times, as if he could hear, I bid him good morning.   Just some Sunday night scenes from downtown Taylor, Texas.  

As the light faded on Saturday night, I moseyed around the prairie.   As is often the case, there was no plan.   This time, however, I had something in mind.   Thanks to a stop at a railroad crossing in Granger, the plan morphed.   After twiddling my thumbs for several minutes, with the northbound train going nowhere, I got out of the car and took photos.  Other drivers probably wondered what the heck that weird fellow was doing, but I do what I do.   The reason for the delay turned out to be a southbound train en route through Granger.  The northbound folks had to wait.   These photos, with some light I really like, were the result of my train stop last night.   After taking a final photo, maybe twenty minutes into the delay, I turned around, heading on home to Taylor.   I’ve no doubt that northbound train eventually moved on.  

Tonight’s theme, for what it’s worth, is the moon.  Of the three photos presented, the second image, taken Thursday night over the Georgetown square, shows the moon in its First Quarter phase, becoming more prominent every evening.  The opening photo was taken last evening in Taylor, with the moon now in its Waxing Gibbous phase, well past 50% visibility.  That’s St. James Episcopal Church, 1890s vintage.   Tonight the clouds are beginning to move in.  Rain is expected on Sunday.   In the last photo, still in its Waxing Gibbous phase, the  moon darted in and out of the clouds.   If the forecast holds true, I doubt we’ll see much of it  tomorrow.   As mentioned before, I like the moon,  in whatever phase possible.  

Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” will be playing at the Georgetown Palace Theater beginning tonight, continuing weekends through December 30.    It’s colorful and lively, well-worth your time this holiday season!

It’s been a while since my last visit to Thorndale, Texas, a town in southwestern Milam County with a population of around 1400.   Founded in 1878, it retains a charm I like in Texas towns.  Trains go past the grain elevators pretty often here.   I think it adds to its charm.   No more words.  Just a few images taken this evening.  

With nothing much going on tonight, I spent a little time looking at the Taylor train yard.    At the right time of day it transforms nicely.  The last couple are a few miles west, but they all connect somewhere.   Just some lines tonight, friends. 

Today we commemorate  our veterans, those past and present.   I’m going to go a little backwards in this post, presenting my last photo taken day in the opening image.   It was taken at Georgetown’s Field of Honor, where 2000 flags have been flying since November 3, courtesy of the Georgetown Rotary Club.   They started to come down this afternoon, with volunteers helping things along.   The gentleman in the opening photo, a Rotarian, is more importantly, a veteran (Army) who served during Operation Desert Storm.  He’s looking into the camera, normally something I don’t care for, but here it’s okay.  The way he was gently cradling those flags was sweet.   The other photos, my main assignment for today, were taken during the annual Veterans Day observance in Sun City, Texas.  When weather cooperates, it’s held outdoors, in the Georgetown-Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza, a wonderful space with walls honoring veterans past, plus pavement comprised of bricks containing names of veterans.    Even though this year’s event was inside, I stepped outdoors into the plaza.  There I found a rain-spattered sunflower on the bricks, lovingly placed by who knows who.   And there was the 82-year-old Air Force veteran walking across the plaza after finding a brick honoring his father, a World War I Army veteran.   Yes, I’m going backwards here, folks.   At the end of the ceremonies, there was a couple, hand-in-hand, making their way home.  He’s a World War II Army veteran, in his early 90s.   The rest are a bit of this and that, including a lady who served as an Army nurse during World War II.   It was a good day all around.  Better yet, nobody discussed political matters at this year’s ceremonies.