Images of train travel with sleeper cars and dining cars, brought back many memories. There were so many voices talking at once in my first group, we had to pass around a small train to show whose turn it was to speak!
One story began with a sad note, of being only 5 when Father died. "My mother couldn't take care of all 5 of us, so before the school year started, she put me on the train to Galveston. I lived with my grandmother during the school months and took the train home in the summers to be with my family." I couldn't help but notice her sweet expression as she spoke. I had a feeling this was not a painful memory. "Which train ride did you like best... leaving or returning?" She laughed that she liked them both! "I loved being with my grandmother and I loved getting home!" |
Music can be a powerful reminder of the past. My old recordings of "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe", made the weariest in my group sway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOXmaSCt4ZE
My last group was all kids at the Shelter. I had a broad range from age 3 to 13, but they were amazingly enthused about trains. They were eager to see pictures of old trains and to hold the rusty rail spike. One even had a grandfather who worked on a railroad. They passed the little train car around the circle as I played a recording of "Casey Junior" and when the music stopped they answered silly questions about trains. They worked as a team to build a super quick "Brio" train track. They laughed at their own mistakes when we sang a complicated & confusing song/game "Trainy Train, Chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga- RAIL SPIKE!" |
We dragged out the train fantasy until it was time to clean up for dinner. I had the kids help me fold up the Quilt. When the backside of the Quilt was revealed, some of the older kids began reading the words written on the muslin. "Taos, New Mexico" "Los Quenes, Chile" I explained that I took the quilt when I traveled. They were curious. I told the 2 sisters who had moved here from Utah, that I would be in their state, next week! "I have a good place where you can take your quilt!" Said one of the sisters. |