279 Days in Lockdown: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

First: the bad. We won the election and he won’t give up. Who cares?

And then the ugly. Lake Jackson continues to clean out garages. What else is there to do during a pandemic? It’s nice to see it all piled on the curb waiting for the trash truck. And it usually stays a couple of weeks because few people bother to go to the city web site to check heavy trash pick-up days.

And then there is the Wal-Mart Christmas yard decor. Inflatable characters that usually get disconnected and die on the lawn during the day. But these ghastly guys stayed inflated to inspire the Christmas spirit in the neighborhood. The yellow one must be the Grinch. Snoopy, of course, is recognizable by his dog house. But the one on the right? Is there some connection between Christmas and Dia de los Muertos that I haven’t heard about? Whatever the explanation, it is adds a touch of homeliness to the neighborhood.

But then there are some good things to note on day 279.

There are still geese who make their home at Shy Pond. They still maraud the neighborhood and sometimes attack the children who expect them to be grateful for their offering of stale, freezer-burned bread crusts. But they are natural, handsome and real — and they are not known to be coronavirus vectors.

And there are azaleas blooming in December. Something we don’t often enjoy, even in Texas.

And there is Christmas cactus. Always beautiful to behold. This one is bursting with blossoms and holds the promise of even more.

So there are some things to celebrate this year. Merry Christmas Lake Jackson.