Hugs and Old Hwy 40

There is a back road way to get to Abilene from my house that I have been taking lately and yesterday was a beautiful day for a drive. Since we have been having so much rain, all the fields are green and lush. The sky was blue for a change and there were actual white puffy clouds and no chemtrails. I guess evil takes a day off once in a while.

There is a little crossroads where I pass the unincorporated town of Detroit. It is just a smattering of houses with what use to be a bar and grill. It's closed now with boarded up windows. My Boss told me the story about the bar, I guess some brothers were fighting over it, but I can't remember the details now. I always feel a little sad when I pass it. It will, most likely, never reopen.

On the corner, where I turn onto Old Hwy 40, there is a sign with plastic letters that says, simply, “Pray for Rain.” I send up a little prayer for rain in honor of the guy who lives there. I'm thoroughly enjoying the trip as I pass stately old farmhouses with well kept yards. I saw an actual modern looking log cabin and kind of laughed that I hadn't noticed it before. I pass a cornfield where the little green cornstalks are three inches tall. That farmer will have a very nice crop this year.

Old Hwy 40 ends at the south end of Abilene right near the Post Office and I stop to check the mail. Just some coupons for fast food restaurants that I will probably not use. I just don't trust them anymore. Then it is on to Quik Stop to pick up a few things that are less expensive than at the grocery store. I notice the donut place across the street. When my car was broke down a couple summers ago, the Landlady took me there and bought me a chocolate covered donut from the drive up window. The shop is now newly closed with the sign taken down and a For Rent poster in the window. I never went there (cuz a donut is the last thing I need these days) but I was sad to see that it was closed. A lot of businesses, especially restaurants are closing in this town. A sign of the times I guess.

I saw the RV repair guy as he was leaving the grocery store parking lot and I was going in. He waved to me and I had this feeling of being part of this community now. It felt really comforting.

Inside the store I spot one of the guys who stocks the shelves that I use to see all the time when I was unemployed and would go to the store at the butt crack of dawn. He stopped his conversation with a co-worker to come talk to me saying, “I was just thinking about you! I haven't seen you in a while.” We chatted a little about my new job (just the good stuff), and before we parted ways he put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a little half hug and said, “it was good to see you.” Wow, I thought as I continued my shopping.

The woman who had prayed for me in the parking lot a while back was bagging my groceries. She walked me out and told me that she had been thinking about me and was glad to hear that I got a new job as she put my groceries in the back seat. Then she gave me a hug and said another prayer thanking the Lord for His many blessings and calling me her sister. Wow again. I drove home thinking, Yes, the Lord continues to rain blessings down on me. What a great day.

Hope everyone is well. Stay safe this holiday weekend. I have to work all weekend so hopefully I will get a new post up sometime Monday or Tuesday. But don't hold me to that.

Take care out there.