Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men ...

It hasn't been a particularly good week for those who have to travel to be with loved ones during the holiday.

And it's only Tuesday. I'm no expert on travel patterns, but I would expect there to be many, many travelers at airports and at other public transportation venues tomorrow — on Christmas Eve.

A winter storm over the weekend made for some picturesque TV images from the football game in Seattle. But it was no holiday for travelers stranded at the Sea-Tac Airport, who were stuck in the airport for a few days. More snow is expected.

In fact, the way the weather is rearranging everyone's travel plans, it's beginning to look a lot like "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" out there.

In Denver, details are emerging about what caused a Continental Airlines flight to crash and catch fire during takeoff on Saturday.

But you didn't have to be traveling by air to run into problems in recent days.

Last evening, during rush hour, there were four separate shootings in a matter of minutes along a congested freeway here in Dallas.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, police are trying to establish whether those shootings, which left two people dead, are connected in any way to a man who shot himself in an SUV a few hours later when approached by a SWAT team.

The man reportedly had been accused of robbery and burglary in a nearby community.

I'm skeptical about the vehicle. The one described in the shootings was a light-colored truck. The vehicle in which the man shot himself (he's in critical condition, at last report) is a dark SUV. If the suspect is indeed the one who was responsible for the rush-hour shootings, either he switched vehicles or witnesses of at least two of the shootings were mistaken.

Well, here's hoping that, if you aren't already where you plan to be on Christmas, the weather cooperates during your journey.

And, if you're traveling by ground, here's hoping that no one who is on the road at the same time you are has a gun or the slightest desire to use it.

May you reach your destination — safe and sound.

Merry Christmas to all.