Illegitimis Non Carborundum

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Trains.....


When I sit here at my desk at night at work, there is this noise that happens over my head. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the air conditioning pipes/system that is in the ceiling.

The noise will drive you nuts but sometimes it makes me smile. I know, sounds nuts, but consider the source.

The noise makes me smile because it sounds like a train. It's like the noise a train would make as it's leaving the station. It starts slow and then little by little it picks up, just like a train would as it was leaving the station. I mean it actually makes the chug chug sound.

Now, why in the world would this annoying noise of a train leaving the station make me smile? I'll tell ya why.......Trains remind me of my Dad! My dad had a huge platform in his basement after my oldest son and the love of his life, Jerry, decided that he liked trains. Anything and everything to do with trains, my father made sure he had because of Jerry. We could stock our own Thomas store with all the trains, track and buildings we have. I still get Jerry a train on his birthday in honor of my father. He doesn't play with them at the age of 15, he's saving them for his son. But I like doing it for the memory of what it meant to him and my father. I can sit on the deck of my house and I can hear the train whistle even late at night. We don't live too far from the Amtrack train station and they run all hours of the day and night. I love hearing it when it's about midnight and I'm sitting out there on a Friday or Saturday night. It's a comfort noise.

I miss my dad. Even though it's been 7 1/2 years, I miss him like he just left. So much has changed in those years, so many things have happened. I can almost hear him laugh or chuckle and see his grin when things happen with the kids. I can see in my head what his face would look like if he was there watching them, seeing what they are doing, enjoying who they've become, marveling at their accomplishments. He'd be so damn proud, of them and of me. I really think he would be proud of the mother I am, of the children I've raised.


So, to my Daddy, I'd like to say,
Happy Father's Day Daddy, there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss you!
When I sit outside this weekend, blow your whistle for me!
Love ya!!

. . . ...... o o o o o
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[______]___________)<
oo oo 'oo OOOO- oo\\_
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4 comments:

  1. Well, that made me cry. Beautiful words for your father.

    I'm right there with you. It'll be three years on July 24 for me. I'm starting to dread it already.

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  2. What a beautiful tribute to your father! Mine is still around and often drives me crazy, but I can't imagine my life without him in it. Thanks to your sentiments I will be extra thankful for my father on Sunday.

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  3. ((Lori)) What a wonderful memory to share with us. We like trains here too. Chris's Grandpa started out as a Brakeman on the trains and ended up as a Conductor before he finally retired. I bet he would have loved your Dad's train setup.

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  4. Oh, Lori, this is so sweet. I just know your dad is looking down and smiling.
    When you come to FL to visit me, you'll feel right at home. We can hear the train from our house too. Just loud enough to hear it, not loud enough to be annoying. Perfect!

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