Hi there everyone
My father’s birthday is coming up, the tenth one did m since his passing. You may have known him as Allen or Mik. I was feeling down and nostalgic while making plans to go visit his grave and Googled his name. That’s how I found a post about the annual Mik Build Challenge and was completely blown away.
I started crying, actually. I had no idea his internet friends had memorialized him, let alone in a way that brings such excitement to his favorite hobby.
My childhood was filled with trains and steam traction engines. I knew how a boiler worked before I knew how to do long division. I can remember the smell of spray paint filling the basement as he worked on a new build. I remember the delight each time he made a little figure of myself and my sibling and hid them somewhere in his displays. I remember feeling very strongly that G guage was superior to Lionel, because my dad thought so and he must be right. (That hasn’t really changed, I just don’t do much with trains myself lol)
If you were on the site all those years ago, maybe you have memories of him, stories I’ve never heard. I’m 31 now and would like to get to know who my father was as an adult and not just as a parent. I’ve read post after post of his on his Facebook but never thought to seek out forums and his friends until today.
Thank you so much for the honor that is the annual Mik build challenge. I know it would mean the world to him. I can’t think of a single better way to memorialize him.
Also I’m planning to visit his grave on the 11th. If anyone has a message you’d like me to pass on, please let me know.