> Know exactly what your talking about, Can't
> explain, wouldn't trade it for anything!!!!
> I do know it's in the blood and
> incureable!In biker terms A.W.O.L. (a way of
> life)
> Makes you kinda mad when doing it ,but you
> look back and love it. You know going in a
> ground hog hole up to your ass and having to
> have the engineer come down and help you get
> unstuck.(snow was knee deep) sucked at the
> time but wouldn't trade anything for it now.
> Every once in awhile while doing it, you
> realize your very lucky to have the
> oppertunity to be liveing the history you
> love!
Grrr, just lost a long diatribe on this very subject with a slip of the key. Needless to say, this topic has been on my mind a lot. I have met so many in my young life who have given me the opportunity to experience the type of things as described above, the type of things I wouldn't have experienced if I hadn't been instilled with a respect of of those who have come before from, well, birth, and of their creations. I think we all have something that connects us in this regard: I find myself wondering if my children will have it, as my dad (who I just lost) and I did.
I'm sort of at a crossroads as to determining the important aspects of my life, what to devote time to, and some opportunities and losses have come forth over this holiday and this year that have made me just plain re-evaluate. Excuse me for waxing a bit melancholy (it comes with being Irish), but I guess I have lived just long enough to have lost many of the people who influenced my love of history, of rail preservation, and it saddens me a great deal. Its a bit sad that it takes us a while to realize thr gifts that others give, and often don't even realize they are doing it. The most valuable lesson I have learned is to listen; sometimes I'm better at it than others, but I lived and experienced things I never would have otherwise becuase I did.
Let me just say this: thank all of you for sharing your opinions, and listening to what many of you may think are the inane ramblings of a soon-to-be thirty something father and husband who has a penchant (sp) for old houses, old wooden sailboats , old automobiles/ trucks/ tractors, old coaches/baggs/combines, and works in a museum. We are a in reality a select few who share a love, a passion, for the creations of man that time has almost forgot, if not for us.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
TJ Gaffney
P.S.- Below, me Padre, the man who instilled that love of history in me. Hope I can do the same with my family.
tjgaffney@phmuseum.org