I used to live near springfield mo. I would always visit a least once a week my local hobby shop witch was trainland hobbies on south campbell st. The owner jim gaw is a very good man. We would shoot the breeze for hours while I shopped.I have since moved and been away for several years now. I was browsing the internet tonight when a sight for his store came up. I clicked on it immediately. He had a store email so I sent him a merry christmas/hi email and thanked him for his time putting up with me with me back in the day. Told him he had one of the nicest shops in sw. Mo. Would I have emailed some one like this at walmart or menards, probably not. Local hobby shops are one of the few small town type stores left and even they are getting squeezed by the big guys! The friends you make in this great hobby are part of what makes this hobby great in addition to all the childhood toy train memories.In this holiday season its nice to get back in touch with old friends and thank them for all they have meant to you. Its a small world after all as they say.Guess now this next year I will have to get somethings online and support him again as he is a small mom and pop shop. Not to mention a great man to do business with. Happy holidays and merry christmas to every one here also. You guys are the best train buddies I have never met. Well maybe some day!
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