Coming to work this morning I was almost blinded by the bright sunshine beaming off the wet pavement and standing water from the morning’s rain.

I love the sunshine, but it can be overbearing at times.

I’m glad I had my sunglasses on to help shield against the bright light coming toward me.

But sunglasses stop working when the blinding rays are coming in through the side window - beneath the lower edge of the sun visor. At one point I held my left hand against the window to block the sun, but that didn’t last long because my hand got tired.

It’s also amazing how much heat those sunrays generate on glass that early in the morning.

But if given the option of bright sunshine or dark, dreary, rainy traveling conditions, I’ll take the sun anytime.

For the past week or so I have taken alternate routes home at night to avoid the traffic headaches on Navarro Street from the loop north to the city limits.

Most of the time my route has been through Cuero - which you might say is a logical route.

But this time a year it is more than logical, it is therapeutic.

Many of the homes lining the highway between Victoria and Cuero are decorated with Christmas lights, which not only light up the otherwise dark highway, but also add some Christmas cheer to the drive.

Then as you go by the city park in Cuero and see all the lighted decorations - something magical that happens - even without going through the park. Community pride, as well as Christmas spirit just jumps out at you.

The large Christmas tree made of green lights at the electric co-op fills the sky at the top of the hill.

Closer to Yoakum, the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch is outlined from front to back with lights.

The only thing missing from the magical light displays is the Christmas tree that once stood in the middle of the intersection in Pershing Square in Yoakum. Travelers could see the lights from it on the roads coming into Yoakum from US 77-A. It seemed to add so much light from the downtown area to residents and visitors a like coming in the city. You can still see the white lights of downtown from the hilltop, but it is not as bright as when the tree was connected to them.

Christmas has always been a special time for me. But the lights along the path home this year have added so much more to the season.

Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and enjoy your time together this season.

Becky