Deflection

One thing that I remember about Christmas Eve is returning to Wisconsin from Iowa. I would work on Christmas Eve and then I would travel back late in the afternoon extended into the evenings. Usually, by the time that I got to Wisconsin, it would be dark. All of the houses lite up by the Christmas lights reflecting off of the snow. If I was late enough, I would see the people going in to the church for the Christmas Eve services. It was rather romantic. With all of the activity going on, there was a sense that something big was going on: the birth of the Christ child celebration. Of course, this is the simplified version of the trips.

There were times when it was snowing and, of course, that made the driving a little more challenging. When I was driving still driving the Trans Am, there was one night that I was in the city of Dubuque and the highways were lightly covered with snow, I call home and got a report from dad and made it home. One night when I was driving my GMC Jimmy, it was snowing hard when I was in the city of Dubuque. This was the days before smart phones, so I had no idea on the path of the snow storm. I even stopped the Dubuque Maintenance Facility to observe the RADAR, but everyone was out plowing snow. I decided to take US 151 through Madison hoping that the higher traveled roads were be easier to drive, but the snow was really coming down. After I got to mom’s, it seems like US 11 would have been the better route, with less snow.

Usually, I was going through the city of Dubuque at supper time. This was not good, since most of the restaurants were closed. Somethings I really had to struggle to find an open restaurant, but I always got something to eat.

I was always listening to my Christmas Carols, and it really set my Christmas feelings. One of the women in the Office of Maintenance, in Ames, where I was working at the time, was into cows, she had a It’s a Cow Christmas cassette, and I had to get one for myself. If anyone has ever been around a diary farm, the songs were really good. I just found a CD on E Bay, and I bought it so that I will have a copy. But, more importantly, the songs did put me in the mood for the Christ Child’s brith celebration.

It was always fun getting home for Christmas, and seeing my family that I had not seen since Thanksgiving, but I guess that was only about four week before my arrival. All of excitement for Christmas was so meaningful, and then long Winter’s nap before Christmas Day.

I hope that everyone has an enjoyable Christmas Season.

Roger