I remember the outrage, when we lived south of Alvin outside Houston, at the proposed route for the Grand Parkway. It was coming close. People were up in arms because it would destroy the countryside, the very reason they moved there.

Well, well, well. My little town of Johnson City has an upgrade. Highway 290, as it travels about five blocks through the city, now has a turn lane. Big improvement.

The 21st century is coming to my little town in a relatively big way. A bank of charging stations for electric cars is being installed next to the gas pumps by our local small box supermarket.

I had no idea, when I decided to take my week-long sabbatical, that the return date was the twentieth anniversary of 9/11. But it is, and here I am.

No fireworks to speak of yesterday. Mostly I did the one thing I love to do. Read a book. Almost all day. A sort of fitting book for the Fourth, Freedom’s Forge by Arthur Herman. It’s the story of how American business mobilized to help win World War II. Great story.

I always visit my books on Veterans day, writings about men at war. Granted, I enjoy seeing all the pictures of fresh-faced soldiers, my parents and grandparents included, but they only tell part of the story.