I awoke this morning to an unbelievable sound. Rain. It’s the last day of June. Unbelievable for this time of year. God is truly good. I love it when the status quo gets shaken in a positive way. Thunder rumbling and a few flashes of lightning added to the overall effect. Nothing bad, just a steady, life-giving shower. Too cool.

It was a total shock to the system to come back from Santa Fe to 100+ heat and humidity. I wanted to run away. True, the hottest months are to come, but I’ll take this respite any time.

We made it home (barely) on Thursday from Santa Fe. The fuel pump on the Guv (the Buick) is going out. It runs fine for about the first 6 hours or so, then the car starts missing. We limped it into Santa Fe on Monday and back home again. I was amazed we weren’t stranded out in the middle of nowhere (both directions).

It hasn’t hit me yet that I’m really off work for a week, a paid vacation. I used to take it for granted that I got 4 weeks paid every year at my previous 24-year job. Of course, they tried to make me feel bad every time I would take one, or for anything else I did for that matter. Just another reason I’m glad I left.

I don’t think I’ll fully realize it until in the morning dark and early when I’m heading north towards The City Different. There’s something about traveling that makes me feel alive. If time and money weren’t issues, I would definitely pursue this path more often.

Forget Rednecks, here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about folks from Texas…

· If someone in a Lowe’s store offers you assistance and they don’t work there, you may live in Texas

· If you’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Texas.

· If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Texas.

· If “Vacation” means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend, you may live in Texas.

· If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Texas.

Here’s where I’ll be on Monday. It will be so good to be “home” again.