HOMESICK

When the ranch hand was near seven year old, Aunt Rubye blessed his deprived country self by allowing a stay with her and family in Ft. Worth for a couple of weeks.

A "couple of weeks" don't sound like no step for a "stepper", but for a first grade neophyte away from home for the first time....that turned into a bit of a challenge.

Seems the Wright City kid developed a serious case of "homesick"...yeah, missed his mama, dad, sisters, and whatever.....Sweet aunt Rubye understood and cut the visit short to take the mama's boy home early...bless her soul!

Forty years ago, a naive, know-nuthin bumpkin started Texas Highway Patrol school and found no challenge whatsoever...the physical training...the academics....the mental pressure so expertly applied by the platoon sergeants...nothing...EXCEPT the "homesick" part started to eat away at the soul felt resolve to succeed............?

The good news is that the ole fat boy prevailed and lasted forty years in his chosen profession.

The "interesting" news: Your humble scribe has sit his butt in Huntsville Texas all week for some mandatory po-leese training and he would readily confess to all as to being "homesick"?

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home, and that fact shall never change!