We had taken another one of our now famous “expeditions.” The highlight of my day was sitting on the rock wall near the woods with my grandson. We were having a conversation about what life was like one hundred and fifty years ago. We sat on a rock wall we found on our latest expedition for hours! This was another “Snapshot in Time” we shared that I am confident will never be forgotten. His appreciation for history, his values, and strength of character are as strong as the rock we sat on that day!
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!
“I like the one where he doesn’t miss the boat because it seems happier” my grandson said without hesitation.
“What if he did not miss the boat on his second attempt and the boat had trouble at sea and this man was responsible for saving many lives?”
“Now I don’t know which story I like….this gets confusing!”
“Time travel or how an event in the past affects subsequent events has been written about for years. You must admit we talked about a time machine and what we would do with it if we had one.”
My grandson began to have one of his “light bulb moments” and gave me his thoughts on what can be a difficult concept to grasp at any age! Never underestimate a young person’s ability to break down the most difficult concepts. Give them the opportunity and you will always be amazed at their conclusions and perspective on a given topic. More importantly – give them your “time.”
I overheard a group of 7 – 10 year old children talking about what they received for Christmas. Several of them had received the latest and greatest video games, a couple had received i-pads and each was saying how great they were for playing games. What impressed me the most was the one boy who said rather proudly “I didn’t want any of those for Christmas.” “What!” the others replied. The young boy laughed and said confidently, “A few months from now when your games are replaced by a newer model or broken, my soccer ball and cleats will still be in great shape and so will I.”
Needless to say, I was very impressed. Not only was he willing to risk the peer pressure, but he displayed the wisdom seldom seen in our young today. He managed to turn the conversation about tablets and video games to sports. It became apparent to me that much of what was being said by these children was what they thought the others would want to hear.
And No I am not anti-electronic devices. They have their place and when used appropriately can be very educational. We do however replace actually playing sports with playing games, exercise with sitting on the couch, creating and imagining with clicking and touchscreens. We at the very least need to listen to this young boy and strike a healthy balance. While I am at it parents, the next time you absolutely have to “text” someone, pick up the phone and actually call them!
The sight, sound and power of rushing water cascading off a cliff has a mesmerizing effect on us. The beauty the tens of thousands of waterfalls nature provides us with is truly something to behold. If you are planning a model railroad layout be sure to include one on it. Make sure you provide a mountain with the appropriate stream and pond below for your waterfall to empty into. They are not as difficult to build and crystal clear caulk which you will streak with white paint does the trick!
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!
Snapshots in Time 