Columnists, EDITORIAL -- FEATURE SPOT, Editorials, J.R. Tidwell, Opinion
 By  J.R. Tidwell Published 
6:00 am Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Procrastination wins again

I did it again. I procrastinated and waited way too long to purchase Christmas gifts for everyone on my list.
I went back to my mom’s house over the holiday. She couldn’t sleep on Thursday night/ Friday morning, so she asked me to accompany her to Walmart at 1:30 in the morning.
Car trouble had prevented me from doing almost all of the shopping I had intended to do, so I took advantage of the situation and got some of it done.
I also wasn’t going to let her go by herself so early anyway.
I didn’t manage to finish that night — or morning — so I had to go back to town on Friday.
I was in negotiations over finding a vehicle — which my uncle got me a nice deal on because he knows the lot owner — and didn’t have a car of my own.
My stepdad took me to a few places, so just a little bit more of my list got crossed off.
But I still wasn’t done.
I managed to get what amounts to an extended test drive on a vehicle, so I could drive myself back to Walmart. I didn’t want to go on Christmas Eve during the day, so my mom suggested that I go early in the morning, and I mean early.
I walked into the Jasper Walmart at 2 a.m. on Christmas Eve determined to cross off each name on my list before I left the store. And I did just that — two hours later.
I don’t think I have ever napped so much in my life as I did at my mom’s house on Friday and Saturday.
I got my shopping done, but I was exhausted. At least I didn’t have to go back to MegaStore USA for anything else.
I had a nephew, niece and step nephew born this year, so they each got to enjoy their first Christmas.
My nephew probably didn’t enjoy it much, though. He had an upper respiratory infection and was running a fever, poor little guy. At least he’s feeling better now.
Mom got to see me, my sister and my niece/ her granddaughter on Christmas, but my brother and nephew had to stay in Tuscaloosa.
At least she saw my brother on Christmas Eve.
She had planned to serve breakfast to everyone on Christmas Day. She ended up only feeding my stepdad, herself and me.
Robert Burns said it best in his poem “To a Mouse.”
“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley.”
This is what has come to be known as “the best laid plans of mice and men go oft awry.”
Robert Burns — that old Scotsman — was absolutely right.

Also on Franklin County Times
Drone contraband is becoming a problem
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
April 15, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Area law enforcement officials say they support the idea of more authority to stop drones from delivering contraband into jails. Alabam...
Oliver: Too many children are being abused
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 15, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County deputies investigated 85 cases involving child and sexual abuse in 2025. “For a county the size of Franklin County, tha...
Sentencing delayed again in manslaughter trial
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
April 15, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Brandy Dowdy will have to wait even longer to learn how long she will serve in prison after her sentencing was delayed for the second t...
Garden club hosts plant, bake sale
Columnists, News, Red Bay
In the Community
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 15, 2026
RED BAY — The Red Bay Garden Club held its annual plant and bake sale Saturday at the high school greenhouse to raise funds for projects across the ci...
Has the city on a hill lost its shine?
Columnists, Opinion
April 15, 2026
Ronald Reagan used the “Shining City on a Hill” as a metaphor for the United States as a beacon for freedom and democracy in the world. Joe Biden ofte...
Delta Kappa Gamma learns gardening tips
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
April 15, 2026
Our April meeting of Delta Kappa Gamma at Calvary Baptist Church in Russellville featured a lively and practical program by Trace Barnett, a native of...
TVA president, CEO announces retirement
News
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
April 15, 2026
Less than a year after he was named president and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority, Don Moul told members of the board of directors he will be re...
Students’ art selected for State Capitol exhibit
News, Russellville
By Maria Camp camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 15, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The art of three Russellville Elementary School students is on display at the Alabama State Capitol through April 28. Khloe Ball, a fou...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *