Snapshots in Time

How important it is to spend time with your children and grandchildren

Tag Archives: journey


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RAILROADS TO ROCKETS!

“Life is divided into three terms, that which was, which is, and which will be.

Let us learn from the past, to profit by the present, and from the present, to live

better in the future.”

                                                                                                                                                 ~William Wordsworth

                                                                                                                        

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Samy and I continued our discussion about the railroads, life in America at the turn of the century, and of course our latest expedition to visit the general merchandise store located in the center of the town we live in. This hardware store has been in operation since 1900 and still looks the same today as it did at the turn of the century! We were interrupted by the unmistakeable sound of a train whistle and the sound of the wheels against the track. The gates went down, the lights began to flash and the bells went off. We looked in the distance toward the bend in the tracks and sure enough we saw the bright light on the front of the engine. The train made a brief stop next to the station where we were standing and we were treated to an extreme close-up of this enormous engine! The experience of being able to see and hear this great workhorse “up close and personal” was a thrill for both of us.

“Wow, that was awesome,” Samy said, as we watched the train pull away until it disappeared into the distance and we could see it no longer.

“It was almost as though they knew we were waiting here,” I answered.

“One hundred years from now another grandfather and grandson might come here to watch the train,” Samy commented as he looked up at me.

“Maybe…..and I hope they have the same experience we have had together.”

I knew that regardless of the century, there was no one I would rather travel through time with than my grandson. There are some things in this world that are “timeless” and he possesses every one of them. Perhaps one day he will stand with his grandson and share the same privilege I have known. The future holds many challenges and it is incumbent upon all parents and grandparents to prepare our children for it. It is my sincere hope that we never forget the things in life that really matter!

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CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN !

Mountains are symbolic to “challenge” and there was nothing my grandson and I liked more than a good challenge. He had demonstrated his ability to see things in his “mind’s eye” and create them from there. Children show these creative and imaginative abilities when they are given opportunities to use them. We felt as though we were standing on the summit of a mountain we had just climbed.

Topographical features, landforms, mountain streams, vocabulary, scale, imagination, and creativity all come to mind when I think back to that day. The blessing that is my grandson is what I am thankful for every day. The titles we value the most are “Grandson” and “Grandpa.”


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MEMORIES THAT LAST…..THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER

TIME AND THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER

We knew the memories we were creating were what really mattered. They would last beyond our lifetime. These are the “Snapshots in Time” we hold so dear. This is the reason that one generation should stand on the shoulders of the one preceding it. It makes possible that which we previously thought was not! I could not help but remember that the hands that were now holding two by four lumber, were those that belonged to an infant, who not that long ago, clasped his tiny hand around my finger for the first time and changed my life forever!

 

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Snapshots in Time: “Patience and Perseverance”

 

 

 

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We found our research into every facet of the history and the building of our project immensely fascinating. We were thoroughly enjoying ourselves and that was not likely to change. During the first few months my grandson had read several books on the great railroads and how they changed America. We had been on hundreds of web sites together and had gained an appreciation for just how much the railroads affected the way people lived, worked and played. The educational opportunities our journey presented us with seemed almost limitless. Our combined enthusiasm would become the key to unlocking countless new doors into a world of exciting experiences we never dreamed were possible. My grandson and I also learned that if we were going to achieve all of our goals we would have to have a great deal of patience and perseverance!


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Snapshots in Time: “Generations”

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We knew the memories we were creating together would last a lifetime. These are the “snapshots in time” we hold so dear. We discussed many times during the course of our “journey” how they would serve as a basis for the next generation to create memories of their own. Samy and I vowed to do our best to make that happen. This is the reason that one generation should stand on the shoulders of the one preceding it. It makes possible that which we previously thought was not!

I could not help but remember that the hands holding two by four lumber that day, were those that belonged to an infant who not that long ago, clasped his tiny hand around my finger for the first time and changed my life forever!

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Snapshots in Time: “Missing The Boat”

 

 

 MISSING THE BOAT  –  PART ONE

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It was the early nineteen hundreds and a man was planning to make the journey from Europe to America to establish a home for himself. When he arrived at the dock he found out that the boat had sailed long before his arrival. He was extremely disappointed and did not try again until years later. This is the first version of the story.
There is another version where this same young man does not miss the boat and on the voyage to America, he meets a young woman, falls deeply in love with her and they are later married. They settle in America and raise six children who in turn have children of their own.

To be continued…


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Snapshots in Time: The Excitement of Discovery

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We were about to travel back in time over half a century. To say that we were caught completely by surprise would be an understatement. The packing tape had almost completely disintegrated and the treasure we had stumbled upon was indeed very old. We never imagined that what we were now looking at would serve as the beginning of a “journey” that would take us places we never dreamed of going. What lay ahead existed only in our imagination – until now. A very powerful, educational, action-packed adventure began that cold December day. The memories we would create, expeditions we would take, and obstacles we would surmount would become the “Snapshots in Time” that would remain in our hearts forever! Take advantage of that priceless sense of wonder and the excitement your children and grandchildren possess. Always remember you are uniquely qualified to become the best teacher they will ever have!

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Snapshots in Time: Delorean, Time Machine, or Flux Capacitor?

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                                                                                        TIME MACHINE

                                                                                         

DELOREAN                                                                                                  Delorean

In Snapshots in Time: The S&G Railroad by Robert Michaels, Samy and his grandfather discuss just that. Since they did not have a plutonium-powered DeLorean or a flux capacitor, they decided they just weren’t necessary. They were determined to go back in history through one of their now-famous expeditions. This Grandson and Grandfather chose another vehicle for their journey through time. We hope more of you will join us on our adventure now that we are available on Kindle as well as paperback. Our journey spans almost 200 years and is a compilation of experiences and memories we have created together to make this true story enjoyable, heartwarming and one we will never forget.

It is a “must read” for all grandchildren, parents and grandparents!

FLUX CAPACITOR

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Snapshots in Time Reflections . . .

Reflections…….The Journey Continues !

     When I look back at the events that led me to write Snapshots in Time: The S&G Railroad only one thing comes to mind. The image of my 5 year old grandson Samy! He was standing in an almost empty walk-in closet and it seems like yesterday. He will be 10 in 2 months and I find it difficult that so much time has passed so quickly! This is when our “journey” began and it has led us to places we never imagined. Now we both would like to share our journey with you.

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