"White Christmas" (WHITE CHRISTMAS)

As I walked out of my apartment building at 5:30 in the morning, I had just finished an all-nighter. It has become a tradition before each time I return home to Texas for a visit. It's just me cleaning up my room, going through things and reminiscing, disposing of excess, deciding what to keep and what to donate, and eventually packing for my trip. This particular morning was no different. My pace was hurried but I got out of my apartment at my scheduled time. Although the airline website said that my flight was on schedule, I kind of expected an upcoming delay because the day before the city had a major snowstorm and it crippled the airports. But I when I walked out of my building, there was a peace in the air with a beautiful setting. No sleet, rain or snow was falling. No cars, traffic, or pedestrians. Just a white covered neighborhood--my neighborhood in majestic white with a quiet serenity--for me, it represented one of the most beautiful moments in the city. I had been racing the past several weeks with my schedule, but in that one moment, I stopped, took a breath, thanked the Lord for the moment and the wintry wonderful landscape, and then continued wiht my large suitcase and carry-ons to the subway.