All Good Things: Part Six
We boarded the train at nine AM, and left Lock Haven for Bellefonte. Downtown Lock Haven was doing their annual train fundraiser, and guess who had been asked to talk some history? I was sitting with Tif, Michelle, and Paul when we got out of the city. I stood up and headed for the staff car.
"Back in a while, guys. Time to go earn my keep."
I started at the front car, and worked my way from car to car, telling historical stories. I talked about the time Ulysses S. Grant had a party on a train in Renovo. I talked about the naked sewing machine salesman whose horse was frightened by a train in Flemington. I watched the audience, as I'd learned to do, and gauged their reactons to the stories. Everything went over well, and I was back with my family when the train pulled into Bellefonte.
There was a festival going on, and we walked around it. We looked at antique cars, and listened to the Lindy Sisters, and let Paul play in the park. He was warning the other little kids about the slides.
"Vey vey vey hot," he was saying, long after they'd quit listening.
He got off the playgorund and toddled off toward the bridge. I followed him, and we walked around the garden a bit. And then I looekd up---Some of the Star Wars characters from the festival were coming over the bridge. I smiled, delighted.
"Michelle! Get the camera over here!"
I picked up Paul, and we approached the characters. I said,"This is awesome! Check it out, Paul! Will you high-five Boba Fett?"
My wife appeared behind me, taking photos. Paul gave Boba Fett a high five. He was nervous around the Jawas, though, saying,"No no no."
"This is so cool," I said. "Michelle, take our picture with Boba Fett and Kylo Ren. Paul, this is excellent, buddy. May the Force be with you."
"So I hope you're satisfied with the performance, Natasha," I said. I was talking to the head of Downtown Lock Haven, sitting on the train on the way home. "I want to make sure you guys feel you got your money's worth."
"Oh, yes," she said. We were in the staff car, sitting at a table. Paul was coloring with a piece of paper she'd given him.
""I'm glad. I had a great time. I have some thoughts on local tourism I'd like to discuss with you guys, too. I'll come down to the office sometime."
"That's great."
I picked up Paul, and we walked back to the other car. I sat down with Michelle, and Paul went to Tif. She picked him up and held him, and sang to him.
This is a perfect day. I could die right now, and everything would be okay. I'd be happy.
it's a perfect day.
After we got back on the train, we took a ride out to Beech Creek. Paul was alseep in the back of the car when we got there, but he woke up pretty fast when he saw food and people. It was Katelynn's high school graduation party.
Katelynn, Savanah, and Holly were all there when we walked in. Katelynn looked up and saw me.
I remember at my wedding, when I looked up and saw my mentor Paula had come. I remember being delighted, and unable to hide that. Katelynn's face looked like mine must have, back then.
"Lou!" She hugged me. "Thanks for coming!"
"Thanks for the invitation," I said. "That means a lot." I gave her a framed picture. "I brought this for you."
She looked it over. It was a painting of me and the two dogs---Sam and Kat. All in shades of brown. I explained,"A friend of mine did this in coffee. I thought you might like it."
"In coffee? That's so cool. I'll put it in my dresser."
"You got this whole army of teenagers, Lou," said Holly. "You know that."
"I know," I said. "It's like DUmbledore's Army."
The kids laughed. Savanah said,"Yes! I need to make that into a Tumblr."
"Guys, I want you to know something," I said. "When I graduated, there was a lot of stuff I was still learning. But I had Paula, my teacher. I could always call her if I needed some help. I want you guys to know that I'll be like that, for you. I'll be there. If you need me, I'm a phone call away."
Katelynn smiled. "I'm glad to know that. Thanks."
We all hugged.
"I'm proud of you all," I said. "You're my kids."
"Back in a while, guys. Time to go earn my keep."
I started at the front car, and worked my way from car to car, telling historical stories. I talked about the time Ulysses S. Grant had a party on a train in Renovo. I talked about the naked sewing machine salesman whose horse was frightened by a train in Flemington. I watched the audience, as I'd learned to do, and gauged their reactons to the stories. Everything went over well, and I was back with my family when the train pulled into Bellefonte.
There was a festival going on, and we walked around it. We looked at antique cars, and listened to the Lindy Sisters, and let Paul play in the park. He was warning the other little kids about the slides.
"Vey vey vey hot," he was saying, long after they'd quit listening.
He got off the playgorund and toddled off toward the bridge. I followed him, and we walked around the garden a bit. And then I looekd up---Some of the Star Wars characters from the festival were coming over the bridge. I smiled, delighted.
"Michelle! Get the camera over here!"
I picked up Paul, and we approached the characters. I said,"This is awesome! Check it out, Paul! Will you high-five Boba Fett?"
My wife appeared behind me, taking photos. Paul gave Boba Fett a high five. He was nervous around the Jawas, though, saying,"No no no."
"This is so cool," I said. "Michelle, take our picture with Boba Fett and Kylo Ren. Paul, this is excellent, buddy. May the Force be with you."
"So I hope you're satisfied with the performance, Natasha," I said. I was talking to the head of Downtown Lock Haven, sitting on the train on the way home. "I want to make sure you guys feel you got your money's worth."
"Oh, yes," she said. We were in the staff car, sitting at a table. Paul was coloring with a piece of paper she'd given him.
""I'm glad. I had a great time. I have some thoughts on local tourism I'd like to discuss with you guys, too. I'll come down to the office sometime."
"That's great."
I picked up Paul, and we walked back to the other car. I sat down with Michelle, and Paul went to Tif. She picked him up and held him, and sang to him.
This is a perfect day. I could die right now, and everything would be okay. I'd be happy.
it's a perfect day.
After we got back on the train, we took a ride out to Beech Creek. Paul was alseep in the back of the car when we got there, but he woke up pretty fast when he saw food and people. It was Katelynn's high school graduation party.
Katelynn, Savanah, and Holly were all there when we walked in. Katelynn looked up and saw me.
I remember at my wedding, when I looked up and saw my mentor Paula had come. I remember being delighted, and unable to hide that. Katelynn's face looked like mine must have, back then.
"Lou!" She hugged me. "Thanks for coming!"
"Thanks for the invitation," I said. "That means a lot." I gave her a framed picture. "I brought this for you."
She looked it over. It was a painting of me and the two dogs---Sam and Kat. All in shades of brown. I explained,"A friend of mine did this in coffee. I thought you might like it."
"In coffee? That's so cool. I'll put it in my dresser."
"You got this whole army of teenagers, Lou," said Holly. "You know that."
"I know," I said. "It's like DUmbledore's Army."
The kids laughed. Savanah said,"Yes! I need to make that into a Tumblr."
"Guys, I want you to know something," I said. "When I graduated, there was a lot of stuff I was still learning. But I had Paula, my teacher. I could always call her if I needed some help. I want you guys to know that I'll be like that, for you. I'll be there. If you need me, I'm a phone call away."
Katelynn smiled. "I'm glad to know that. Thanks."
We all hugged.
"I'm proud of you all," I said. "You're my kids."