Only 13 more days left in the year 2025. Christmas is next Thursday, and it is the first time in 50 years I have not had my husband. The children are grown, the grandchildren are grown, and the great grandchildren are halfway grown. Christmas presents are easy. All they want is cash apps.
I am lucky to have lived this long, and I think about my friend who is nearly 94, and she is still growing. I want to be her when I grow up. She still bakes, sews, watches TV, gets her hair done once a week, keeps up with current affairs, and paints her own fingernails. What we have in common is our birth month, February.
•TISD students leave early next week on Thursday for the Christmas winter break, which is Dec. 18, and the holiday break ends on Jan. 6, 2026.
•The Elf Station held last weekend was a huge success and many children left happy and proud. Thank you to the citizens of Trinity County for donating your time and money to make this project a great joy and blessing for the children and parents of Trinity County.
•The VFW and Mickey’s House are giving away four turkey dinner baskets with all the fixings to Veterans on Dec. 22, at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church located at 401 Prospect Drive, which is being held between 5 and 7 p.m. Contact Florene Cleburn at (832) 577-7043 or Marilyn Barnes at (281) 782-8309 for more information.
•Don’t Forget. The Bingo games at the VFW Hall are on Thursday and Friday nights. The VFW bingo games monetarily have increased to attract more players to attend the games on these evenings. Please call Marilyn for more details.
•Last week I wanted to tell you about a piece of history I read on Facebook from the History Vault reprinted by Shelby McLeod about the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
According to the History Vault, the last Pearl Harbor survivor died in Many, La., at the age of 102. America bid farewell to Jessie Alton Mahaffey, the last living witness aboard the USS Oklahoma’s desperate struggle to survive on Dec. 7, 1941. As a young sailor, Jessie fought his way through darkness and rising water, clawing out of the capsizing hull while 429 of his brothers remained trapped in the depths below. He carried that miracle, and that mourning for the rest of his life. Only months later, he would survive yet another sinking aboard the USS Northampton, adding new scars to a heart already burdened by the weight of Pearl Harbor’s loss. The final survivor of the Oklahoma has rejoined the shipmates whose names he never once forgot.
•With the blessings of Christmas, it is always mind blowing to learn about needless and tragic happenings here at home and abroad. Accidents happen, but to be murdered in your own home by one of your children is unthinkable.
Even more unthinkable is students being shot at college, and citizens being killed because of their race or religion in other countries. Pray for our world to return to decency and morality. Most of all pray for the President.
•Sunday night I was invited to a wonderful church banquet held at El Rancho Viejo Restaurant. The Mexican food was outstanding, and the comradery was amazing. I even won a Christmas game. I forgot how competitive I am even in my 80s. I hope they will invite me back next year.
This week is important to me because it is my daughter’s birthday, and after four boys of her own, she finally has a granddaughter to be able to decorate in pink. I hope at last she forgives me for combining her Christmas and birthday presents together for 51 years.
•Last week I left out some Library news, but I will try to start adding their schedule of events to my articles for your information. it is very important to maintain a Library in our community, especially when reading a book is becoming obsolete, and they have so many other educational events
This Friday, Dec. 19, there will be a Christmas movie for the children from 2 to 3 p.m. serving popcorn and drinks. Tuesday, Dec. 23, for the adults, from 1:30-4 p.m. until close, they will serve coffee and light refreshments.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are closed. The Trinity Public Library reopens on Monday, Dec. 29, at 1 p.m.
•Friday, Dec. 19, is the Martin Senior Citizen Center’s Christmas Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. For more information call Sherrie at (936) 593-2625. I hear Santa will be there with prizes for the good women and men.
Students return to school on Jan. 6, 2026.
Martin Luther King Holiday of Service, Jan. 19, 2026
Trinity County Crime Stoppers Mardis Gras Cowboy Gala, Jan. 31, 2026
Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2026
Lovelady Love Fest, Feb. 14, 2026
Presidents Holiday, Feb. 16, 2026
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026
Lenten holidays and dinners TBA
Don’t forget to send me your information about the above 2026 holidays and upcoming events.
See you at the movies.
