My quiet 67th birthday

This was supposed to be a low-key and quiet birthday with no celebration.  After all, we already had plans to do a joint birthday dinner for Barb and me on Oct. 16.  Barb’s birthday is the 28^th and mine is on the 12^th.  Our son, Matt, and his girlfriend Mary Louise Roberts had planned to bring us a wonderful meal.

But the day got started with our new kitten named “Roy” deciding that he wanted to make my day special and he got in my face every way possible to insist that I know that he is purring up a storm and wanted to snuggle while I was at my computer checking e-mails.  What a guy!  We have had him for a few weeks and he has doubled in size.  He is a “rescue cat” that came to us from Kara Stambach, a member of our church, and the Lucky Cat Rescue.  A gentleman named Roy found our kitten after it was abandoned in a Habitat project and Kara nursed our Roy back to health.  He is so much fun…full of energy…and runs around the house like crazy and then plops on our laps or shoulders and purrs loudly.  We are so grateful to Kara.

Then we headed out for the main event of the day, a trip on the “Steam into History” steam railroad out of New Freedom, Pennsylvania.  The event was sponsored by the Epworth Everybody Else group at our church (nicknamed E3s) and it began with everyone gathering at a nice café in the heart of New Freedom close to the train tracks.

We arrived just in time to see the replica steam engine arrive from the morning trip.  Lots of loud whistles and the sound of live steam gushing from the engine.  How exciting!

Across the street from the restaurant was the company store where they had lots of Civil War memorabilia, puzzles, games, clothing, and toys to enhance your railroad experience.  Nearby, there was also a museum in the old New Freedom train station.

Our goal was Hanover Junction.  The historical importance of this railroad is the Lincoln took these trains to get to Gettysburg to deliver his famous address and Hanover Junction was the connecting point that

allowed Lincoln’s train to connect to Gettysburg.  Regrettably, it was also the same route where Lincoln’s body was taken back to Illinois for burial following his assassination.

The route from New Freedom to Hanover Junction is only ten miles long. The trip takes an hour.  But it was filled with beauty as we saw small towns, large farms, and numerous streams, rivers, and creeks adjacent to the tracks.  The railroad featured volunteers in period costumes and a talented minstrel who entertained us with songs along the

way.  On the route back, the conductor was a walking/talking history lesson.  I thoroughly enjoyed it. I shot 95 pictures and posted them on Picasa here.

And then my day got even better!  Waiting for me in my computer was a nifty video performed…and created…by our other wonderful son, Robert, who lives in Portland.  I liked it so much that I posted it on VIMEO and hope you will check it out:  https://vimeo.com/76779158  I continue to be amazed and grateful for the creativity of our sons.

And finally, a heartfelt “thanks” to all of the folks who posted a happy birthday wish on Facebook. Thank you.  It has really made this day special.