Straight Up Jankey

This childhood town of mine is barely recognizable through the bruises of construction and progress.  What was once was a sleepy town with little more than a grocery store and few gas stations has somehow transformed into a ramshackle boomtown.  New Caney was never a pretty place, and while it has accumulated more development, it is substantially more unpleasant to look at.  Just one stroll through the local Wal-Mart, one can experience the variety of local "characters".  At least my parent's neighborhood has retained its isolation from the creeping sprawl.  

But being home is always nice.  Although, it certainly doesn't feel like all the Christmases I have had in the past.  I think its going to be the first time that all of the children will not together to celebrate.  I honestly miss the excitement for Christmas when I was a child.  Memories of dark, cold nights, illuminated by the glow of thousands of colored lights strung from house to house.  The way the Christmas tree fills the living room with that mystical light and wonderful scent; and how the cats always make their homes in the branches.   Ah nostalgia!