Happy 20th to our Bray-Bray!

Happy Friday everyone. This one lands on the fast moving new year day of January 9, 2026.  Seems like just nine days ago we slept through the ushering in of the brand new year. We did. We really did. Today is a special day in our family as we recognize the 20th trip around the sun for our grandson, Brady Darrell. Brady completed his basic training in the US Navy boot camp and is now heads down into his schooling to prepare for his future ship assignment. We thank God for Brady and we pray for Him to lead, guide, direct, and, protect him as he continues his journey. Amen. (Please don't send any questions or comments about the fellow in the photo holding the baby. I've had plenty over the years. The most frequent goes like this, "What happened to you?" Ha!)

 

Lots of memories from lots of stuff over lots of time. I'm pretty sure you do know what I mean? Right, Vern? That photo above popped up from the Leesville, Louisiana train depot, where a Kansas City Southern, KCS, train engine was parked. (The purchase of the KCS rail company was completed in 2023 as it was purchased and merged into the Canadian Pacific Rail Company, a $21 billion acquisition.) I saw that on a Vernon Parish History feed and it immediately sparked a flood of memories. My dad, Cecil Sr., passed away suddenly at 31, on January 2, 1954. He was an employee of KCS in the rail office in Port Arthur, Texas at the time of his death. I was seven when he left us. That rail engine is one I saw often over the years. It always reminded me of dad. I rode its destinations for years on a free rail pass given to our family by the company. As a teenager we owned a service station in Hornbeck, Louisiana, and we had the contract to fetch the mail that was thrown off the train as it passed through our little town. I used to run after that heavy canvas locked bag to then deliver it to our local post office. Seeing that train and smelling all those wonderful train smells, well, that always reminded me of my dad. It did, it really did, and, as you can tell, it still does. (Dad's headstone has the wrong birth year. He falsified his age to join the US Army in WW2. He was actually born in 1923.)

 

The next memory jog came when this one popped up from my past postings. This is my stepdad for 40 years, Jose Chavez, who went on to his reward in the summer of 2017. Over the years we came to love and appreciate this man. He was very special. Retired from the US Army. Retired from Federal Civil Service. A town Alderman for twenty plus years in the village of Hornbeck, Louisiana. He was devoted to our mom. He was funny. But, what made it interesting is how that he never knew he was funny. He made it to 87 and believe me, he was active right up to just before the end. When that photo popped up I turned it into a painting because it's one that will always remind any who knew him of his penchant for reading front to end, a number of newspapers and publications. When he and mom married our family and his family became the moniker you often hear, the blended family. I don't know if ours was maybe more special in this regard than others, but, we developed a bond that has withstood time. We, the blended family, have enjoyed great times of laughter and we've leaned on each other during times of sadness and sorrow. Dad Jose was a little fellow. (According to my doctor, at the rate that my height is shrinking, I will catch him soon. It's an old people thing, don't act so surprised.) Yep. He may have been short in statue, he was a giant to us and to so many who knew him. One more little story. For maybe twenty or more years of their sojourn here I called everyday to check on them often twice per day. If dad answered he would try to stall giving the phone to mom and I could hear her telling him to just give it to her. He was funny. They were funny and I thank God for them and for their many contributions to my life. 

 

I do hope you have some good memories even if they are tinged with sadness. I could write a book on that comment. Believe me. Okay, already, you do know I could. Y'all have yourselves a great rest of Friday, enjoy your Saturday, and, then, to get the year off right, and to get your life back on right, find yourself on the first day of the week at the local gathering place were people come together to worship and learn more about God. It will be good. Trust me. It will be. It will. May God add His blessings. Amen.