I pulled up to the window, and as I handed the lady my debit card, she said a customer already took care of it for me. I was shocked. She said the driver two cars in front of me had paid for the two cars behind her.  The mystery giver told Starbucks to tell the drivers, “happy holidays and God bless.” I would have paid-it-forward, but there were no cars behind me. It was a blessing, a really exciting moment.  It may sound silly, but when I’m nearing the end of the work week coffee is a must, and it was amazing to think someone out there cared enough to buy my a.m.-happiness. As I sipped my hot coffee, I thought about the person who had changed my morning the entire 20-minute drive to work.

I called everyone I could think of to share the good news because to me, it was more than just a nice East Texan buying my good morning. It made me realize that we should spread that same holiday cheer not just around Christmas, but every day. I can’t explain how much it meant to me, and I’m still looking for a way to pay-it-forward.  To that person out there, if you ever happen to read this, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You changed not only my morning, but gave me a fresh outlook on life.  I’ll never forget that random act of kindness, and now I will work harder to look for the good in everything.  Regardless of life’s obstacles, there are always individuals out there that care.  A cup of coffee, a kind word or even a smile — you never know what people are going through, so why not spread the holiday cheer all year.  Happy holidays!

I have to admit, it is quite the change moving from the big city in Austin to deep East Texas, but it is a change I’m thrilled to make.  I grew up in East Texas, so it’s nice to be only two hours from my family rather than four.  I guess I’m just a city girl going back to my country roots.

I absolutely love my job.  I get paid to do a job I love so much I would do it for free (that is if I didn’t have bills to pay.)  In almost two months I’ve gone from being apprehensive about a new job with new faces to wondering how I could ever get by without the incredible friends I’ve made at the station.

I think the best part about being  a reporter is that each day is a new day and you never do the same thing twice.  I have already been back to Austin to cover Angelina County Day at the Capitol, I have ventured out to Livingston twice to talk to East Texans about gaming legislation in Texas, I traveled out to Houston County to stand on 200 acres of ash where the U.S. Forest Service conducted control burns, and made my way to Crockett to tell East Texans where the Federal disaster relief funding for Hurricane Ike is all going.  However, I’m only just beginning and I hope to report on many more great stories and to always use journalism to help make East Texas, or wherever life may lead me, a better place.

I promise to do my best to post often, but you can watch my stories at ktre.com.

I hope this year proves to be a better year than 2008 for all of us, especially for the victims of Hurricane Ike.  I hope and pray this will be a wonderful year, full of rebuilding and restoring that which has been damaged and lost.  As always, if you have anything you would like me to look into feel free to leave a comment.  Have a blessed 2009!

IKE’S AFTERMATH

Sand hauled in to repair stretch of Galveston beach

By HARVEY RICE Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Dec. 17, 2008, 10:14PM