My necktie is out of style and old, but I plan to upgrade my tie and warm clothes when it turns cold.

We often talk about the weather, but there is not much we can do about it. Thank goodness, the weather is in the hands of the Lord. Prognosticators, meteorologists, future-casters, forecasters and most farmers are in constant watch over the weather. Just a few days ago, the governor of Georgia was praying to the Lord for rain n and in some few hours, it did rain. He needs to say “thanks.”

We have been having real summer weather in the early part of December. The tender fruit trees, plums especially, will fall for the warm days and suddenly begin an early budding or blooming. It is a false appearance. Generally a very cold snap in late February or March will penetrate a quick kiss of death on these early bloomers. However, the smartest tree in our part of the country is the reliable pecan tree. Whenever the pecan tree begins to show its buds, you can be assured that spring is here. To quote the poet, “If winter comes can spring be far behind?” He must have had the pecan tree in mind. The pecan tree does not succumb to the false starts that warm weather in wintertime stimulates in tender fruit trees.

Off to Memphis, for a weekend visit and this time only a rear tire “blowout” on a very busy I-240 about midday. This four-lane highway was crammed with fast moving traffic. I was thankful we were traveling in the far right lane when the tire gave way. Though the traffic kept buzzing by, we only traveled a few feet and pulled over to a paved shoulder of the road. If you do not have a cell phone, get one. I heard one of my young lady friends say, “With a cell phone and with an AAA card and phone number n you do not need a man.” Though she was joking, she was also very wrong.

I did call triple A. The operator got my troubled information and said, “I will call you in a moment.” I did wait and gave her a chance to return my emergency call. The thought popped in my head to call 911. A quick answer from the 911 operator, and I gave the dispatcher my problem and my location. Within five minutes, a yellow truck from the Tennessee Department of Transportation pulled up very close to my rear car bumper. These trucks roam the interstate routes throughout the city of Memphis. The drivers are quick and available to solve most any stranded vehicle problem.

Huston Lee, the traveling technician, greeted me with a warm, friendly smile and said, “I am here to help you” n welcomed words. He had a small blue ‘jack’ in hand, raised the car, removed the flat tire, got the ‘baby tire,’ or ‘doughnut’ from the trunk, popped the replacement tire in place, and we were rolling with the traffic in less than 10 minutes. This service is very reliable and the technician was most courteous. For this treat, I was most grateful.

Triple A finally returned my call, but the mission had been accomplished.

Frankly this incident service by the TDOT was unknown to me. I inquired about this special service through the Mississippi Department of Transportation and was told that it is not available.

Going to Memphis and returning to Jackson is another story. The traffic on the interstate highway is at a NASCAR pace. Not many drivers are concerned about the price of gasoline, nearing $3 per gallon. At what point will you park your car as gas prices escalate? Someone suggested to me he would drive until the price of gasoline reaches $10 per gallon. In Canada and Europe the price per gallon is more than $6.

Our weekend was fast, but we made it back to Jackson for church service. Completely featuring young people, the service was unique in seeing youth singing and spreading the ‘Good News.’ These young people made me proud.

I have no regrets being born in a tiny Mississippi Delta town n have no regrets with my parents who reared me n have no regrets with the young lady I married n have no regrets that I am a believer in Jesus Christ n my Lord and Savior.

I love Jackson, now that we have a new police chief n please resuscitate our city streets n yes, give the streets new life.

Walter Redden is a Northsider.