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!
Our journey together would have been simple if we were looking for something to circle the Christmas Tree each year. We had made the decision to build a layout that included a village, train station, mountains, trees, scenery, waterfalls, and a train yard! Were we confused at this point on our journey? Let’s just say the questions far outnumbered the answers and we were determined to find them. Our collective excitement and enthusiasm for our project kept us “on track.”
We knew exactly what we wanted to include on our layout and we found inspiration for building these things in some of the most unlikely places. The “expeditions” we took together were a constant source of inspiration for us. These expeditions were “priceless” on so many levels. They not only helped us build a magnificent layout but were a constant reminder of the things in life that really matter!
When we were young children we really had no obligations and time seemed to pass more slowly. When our parents or especially our grandparents made time for us, it validated something we already knew. They were quite possibly the only people who fully understood the concept of time itself! As Grandparents, it is understandable why we wish to make time slow down. We live in a world that has become very fast-paced and we sometimes neglect the things in life that really matter. Looking back on our lives we come to the conclusion that some things should never be neglected. Perhaps it is for this reason we realize what a blessing our grandchildren really are! They are our link to the future and we are their link to the past and there is nothing greater than spending time with them now…in the present ! Become the pilot and make the precious time we have with our children and grandchildren overflowing with memories and experiences they will never forget!
“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.”
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.
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!
Any opportunity that allows you to work with someone you love on a project that fascinates you both is a golden one. I don’t know of anyone who can pass by a model train layout without stopping to admire it. Lets face it, there is something about a model railroad that mesmerizes us all. It is a “hobby” that is multigenerational and age is not a limiting factor. Whether you are 5 or 75 your interest in the trains and scenery does not diminish. The sense of wonder that young people bring to the table is augmented by the skill and experience of Dad or Grandpa. When fathers and sons get together with Grandpa the benefits and fun increase exponentially. Our daughters and granddaughters should know that this is not a hobby for “men only.” You have the same skills and will be pleasantly surprised that when it comes to scale model buildings you will enjoy it as much as you would furnishing your dollhouses. My grandson and I had no prior experience before beginning our layout, just a desire to do something special together. And “Special” it was!
The dust is settling, decorations are being taken down, and we are reviewing those precious photos taken during the holidays. The toys both adults and children alike waited so long for are already beginning to lose their luster. Those of us who are blessed to have the privilege of being a Grandparent know that beyond the shadow of any doubt that the most precious gift we were given is our grandchildren. We also know that the world’s best educators are Grandparents. Make a New Year’s Resolution to spend time with your children and grandchildren.
As a Grandparent I am looking forward to 2014. The New Year is a great time for us to make resolutions that promote those values that make our family and this great country we live in stronger. The legacy we create and leave behind is important. Encouraging and enhancing the spiritual, physical, emotional and educational growth of our most precious resource should be our most important priority. Snapshots in Time: The S&G Railroad is a true story about an amazing adventure through time that will continue well into the future. Our true story is available on amazon in both kindle and paperback. We wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!
Make this your year to make a difference in the life of a child! You CAN and you WILL!!
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 