Christmas is coming

I drove from Warner Robins back home to Griffin in the twilight. The orange of the western sky backlit the trees that I passed on the road. I was following the tail lights of trucks as my goal. Its a week and two days from Thanksgiving and people are already putting up their Christmas trees and lights. As I drove into Griffin from my trip to Luthersville, I could see the beginnings of Christmas lights in the cool of the evening. This time of year is one of my favorites around here. The leaves are beginning to drop from the trees. Night comes earlier. I can see the silhouette of the trees against the twilight. Driving around the state, I feel warm and comforted in my car. Tonight, I drove west toward Luthersville. Traffic slowed in Tunis because a deer decided to cross the highway in the dim light and was hit by a car. When I passed the scene, the deputy sheriffs were standing in the creeping darkness, staring at the carcus in the road, like mourners at a funeral. Later, I arrived at the borrower's house. It was an old farmhouse on the side of the road outside of Luthersville. It reminded me of our old farm in Clarksville. White-washed wood siding, wood plank back porch. I joined the borrowers in their country kitchen, at the old wooden table. Later, we said our goodbyes and I disappeared into the darkness. I drove through the darkness, ill-lit by driveway lights and the absence of a moon. I drove back into the comfort of streetlights in Griffin. As I drove past the track, I saw the unlit Christmas lighting. The magic is coming.