Yesterday we had 20 guests visit us. I was expecting 20 men who had recently started a model RR club, have already started laying FasTrack, and wanted ideas for doing scenery, adding buildings, some accessories, etc. They had contacted me a few weeks ago, and had set yesterday as the day to visit.
They showed up in a bus at mid morning, 20 people, about half and half men and women. The youngest of the bunch was 75, and the oldest 92. As it turned out, the person responsible for starting the club was one of the ladies. She had traveled by train in several countries, including China, and loved it. So she thought that this would be a good activity for they sort of retirement community.
They had a blast looking at my layout, and Judy and I couldn’t get over their enthusiasm. None of them were model railroaders, so they were starting their layout essentially from scratch, and wanted to learn everything – from the brands of the buildings, people, trees, etc., to where to buy them. They had made a lunch appointment, and thus were able to stay for about two hours, and we just scratched the surface.
And yes, they behaved just as little kids. They pushed every button for the accessories, some of which I should have told them to wait for me, and went everywhere. Many of them had canes, and one had a walker, but neither canes nor age stopped any of them from venturing around.
Unfortunately, one of the ladies fell backwards while taking pictures, knocked another lady who was behind her, both were in front of the Judy Jane Trestle bridge, and the bridge stopped their fall and took the hit. I did not know how sturdy the trestle was, and only three short sticks broke. It took me but a few minutes to fix it. Neither of the ladies were hurt at all; and this was a great relief.
At the end, I showed them how I can open the access doors and navigate under the layout while sitting on one of the dollies I made for this purpose. One of the ladies, the tiniest one, asked if she could go with me. I let her used the dolly I had made for our neighbor, Rebecca. This old girl squatted down, sat on the dolly and away we went. She then climbed the 3-step ladder I have set up at one of the open access areas, and waved at everyone while they took her picture. (I am waiting on those pictures.) When she came down from the ladder, she said, “I bet I am the oldest person to ever go up there.” “And just how old are you?” I asked her. “I am 92” she said, with a grin from ear to ear.
Now I have had a 3-year old girl and a 92-year old girl go up the ladder at this hatch!
What a wonderful experience!
Alex
I miss that the most since I left Ca. Great memories.