I saw this picture on a friend's blog recently, and I absolutely loved it. It spoke to me right away. You see, I have always been drawn to trains.
My grandfather worked for the railroad.....and died on the railroad. It was the year 1935, and there was a powerful storm that lasted three or four days. The weather was so bad, you couldn't see in front of you. Some men were working on the railroad, and fourteen workers were dispatched for repairs. They were coming home in a pair of open railroad cars when they collided with a gravel-filled car coming the other way. Eleven men died that day, one was my grandfather, and others were injured. After that, my grandmother was left to raise five children on her own. Difficult times for sure, but she managed to raise three girls and two boys, with my dad being the oldest son. I still have those newspaper clippings from the monument they built to honor those men who died on that tragic day. And it was a privilege to attend the ceremony with my mother that was held in my hometown.
Interesting fact: Railroad workers were making about 35 cents an hour back then.
I have always appreciated movies about trains, and just watched The Christmas Train. The storyline is a bit of a mystery, and a favorite Christmas movie of mine.
On a lighter note, here is a little bit of my week. The heaters in the bedrooms went out again, and it's been pretty cold. The main heater is still working, which I'm thankful for. Do you know how hard it is to get a hold of workers during the Thanksgiving weekend? But my resourceful brother was able to find someone quickly. My son cooked the turkey this year, and he made a lemon and pepper dressing that was delicious. It was a wonderful meal with all the sides. We'll start with the cozy blanket I've bundled up with the last few days that has kept me warm.
The Christmas season is upon us. Enjoy it immensely. 🎄
~Sheri
