Very profound statements here that I felt compelled to share with you guys. This is an obituary that was published in the St. Louis Rail Enthusiasts’ “Whistle Talk” - November 2008
OUR PASSION FOR TRAINS BINDS US TOGETHER AS A FAMILY AND SADLY, TODAY WE’VE LOST ONE OF OUR OWN.
There are two types of people in the world. So starts the beginning line of countless jokes of comparison. But indeed the people of the world can be divided into two groups when it come sto trains. There are those who carelessly leave trains or may say “aren’t they cute” and then there are those of us who have IT. IT is hard to describe, but at the same time un-necessary to describe for those of us who have IT.
The IT I refere to is a true passion for trains. And I mean… train anything! Train rides, model trains of any scale or gauge, full size trains, large sclae trains, train stories, train books, train photos and paintings, etc.
I’ve often pondered where my spirit essence is within my own body. Is it someplace behind my eyes in my brain, somewhere within the depth of my chest? Wherever it may be is where I instinctively know that my love and passion for trains is as well. I somehow feel it deep in my soul!
Within in minutes of meeting John Woods, he asked me how I came to love trains. I told him that it is was when my folks gave me my first Lionel train when I was five years old. John said he had loved trains since he was a child as well. I told him that I’ve always loved trains and that while driving my car, I slow down (instead of speeding up) to purposely get railroaded at a crossing. I also explained that when in my business travels that I take Amtrak whenever possible. John laughed and said, “well you’ve got IT too”., and we both instantly understood what IT was!
It is with disbelief that I write this follow-up to our recent article to the “Arborway T. T. & Northwestern Rail Road” in honor of meeting the man behind the vision. I speak of our new, but truly short lived friend John Woods. Although I had only met John twleve days before his death, we felt like he was a member of our family and we a member of his.
I had the great fortune to ride alolng side of John on several train rides that day of the “Arborway T. T. & Northwestern Rail Road Grand Scale Trains Fall Gathering” … October 4th, 2008. And JOhn gaciously explained not only about his railroad, but many of the features along the ride. He told me how he would bring his family out on picnics and would fish with his grandchildren on teh lakes of his railroad. He told me how he would take them out on the 36 Volt Trolley Cars (unreadable - cars, four passengers each) and they’d enjoy a family style picnic. I can’t explain what an instant bond I felt with him, but I can tell you I felt it.
I was amazed at a simple and yet professional thing that John said to me… let me explain. Like John, I was excited about the prospect of sharing the joy of his incredible railroad with my three grandsons. But I was timid about asking my family out to visit his train setup. John smiled and said… “You’d better”. It was such an unexpected response or way of stating it that I said… “excuse me?” John said again… “You’d better”, I grinned and told him thanks in advance for his hospitality.
In the terrible shock of John’s passing, I think back on that simple “You’d better” and reflect how profound at how that was and is. I think John was saying far more than simply … “yes” to my request. I strongly feel that John was saying to not let my so called “adult world” interfere with such an important date. In other words, “You’d better do such a trip for your family”. And now with John being gone, I think how profound that statement is! At wakes we seem to say… 'oh, we should get together" and yet we seldom do. I think that there can be a Life Message in John’s short phrase, and that we should not allow that message to slip past us because of our busy schedules.
We’d all “BETTER” take the time we have left. No matter if it be twleve more days (as in John’s case) or if it be years away. We’d all better make sure that we make each day count and not put off the important things that some others view as simply playtime, for it is these times that make up the fabric of life times.
To John (if he can hear this), I consider myself richer because of our single day meeting, and will miss the oppurtunity for a continued friendship with you. Goodbye buddy!
Tom O’Connor
Grand Scale Railroader
Ralph
