Here it is Christmas already and a national poll indicates 55 percent of shoppers still have not done their holiday shopping.

Now, you certainly would not get that impression Sunday afternoon because traffic was bumper to bumper from town up Highway 21 to Walmart. I saw vehicles bearing license plates not only from our county, but from Baldwin, Monroe, Conecuh and Escambia, and Santa Rosa in Florida.

Now, who says Atmore is not the leading trade area north and east of Mobile County? I even spoke with one man and his wife from Mobile County who came here, especially to see the layout of Baumhauer’s Restaurant that is soon to open in the Wind Creek Casino.

Chamber officials can boast of Atmore’s lure of out-of-town shoppers. And, the skyline of I-65’s increasing businesses does nothing to injure this growth.

How about those beautiful and colorful Christmas lights, too? The tribe has done an excellent job donning this attraction to make Atmore a perfect destination for the holiday season.

Well, if that 55 percent figure is correct, folks will have to scramble these next two days to wrap up their shopping.

I have also heard firecrackers popping already. It reminds me of the late 1940s when the only place you could buy these pyrotechnics were at the “store that sat on the Alabama Florida line.”

That’s right. Some claim this old frame building rested partially in Florida and partially in Alabama. Whether or not this was ever officially established as true could not be determined. But I do know it was the most popular location for buying fireworks.

Speaking of the 1940s, a freight train traveling from Nokomis to Perdido one cold December night sprang a “hot car” and came to a screeching halt. Sparks were flying high as tree tops when highway motorists stopped to see all the colorful burst of smoke and flames. My Dad stopped our car that night and we watched what seemed like Christmas fireworks galore. Luckily no one was hurt as railroad workmen soon had everything under control.

Yes, it is Christmas time here in Atmore, the time when we should really accept the true meaning of this event. Our TV and radio programs are filled with beautiful Christmas music and songs of faith; all of which help draw us closer to the one whose birthday we celebrate.

Our column is a little short this time, but we would like to wish you all a very eventful Christmas and holiday season.