​My Dad was a very humble man.  He was a great teacher.  He was a creative, funny, intelligent man.  Recently I started digging through a box of papers I had packed away after he died.  I found more documents of his education –very difficult science, physics and astronomy classes he had taken at some very prominent universities.  He had done well in these classes.  He never mentioned the classes to us not suprising , he always downplayed the big accomplishments.  He raised us to be good, kind people.  I don’t feel that I always lived up to the example he set-although he made it clear he was proud of both my brother and myself. 

I started off today mentioning my Dad because every time I see a special astronomical event or even enjoy viewing one of the special full moons, I think of him and his love of the night sky.

At the end of September 2015 there was a big moon –it was a combination of the super moon/the blood moon /harvest moon and a lunar eclipse.  Any big astronomical event like this still fascinates me and also in a weird unsubstantiated way scares me.  I think of the time when my Dad was sick, we didn’t know how sick he was.  One evening there was a beautiful full moon and he said “That is a once in a lifetime moon.”  He died not too long after that.  My rational self knows that seeing that spectacular full moon didn’t contribute to his death, but I do get a little weird once in a while especially witnessing such as an event as this specific lunar eclipse.

During this particular day Mr. Trent had a show.   It was a special day -an enormous hotrod show thrown together at the last minute for a man that found out he was dying.  Steve played his music as the people rolled in and out in their vintage automobiles and spending time with this treasured person.  The family-hustling and bustling- making sure everyone was fed and that their Dad was having a good time.  This was our anniversary week and Mr. Trent doesn’t take gigs that week so we can spend time together-this event however we were definitely honored to attend and we certainly weren’t going to say no to.

​After we loaded things up and went on our way we decided to head to Observatory Park  in Montville Township Ohio.  What a wonderful park.  We got there early enough that we could find a decent parking spot, the skies that night in many places in Ohio were overcast-but not where we were-the clouds threatened and teased, but did allow us some spectacular glimpses.  We took a nice walk around the park and got ready for the event.  I had brought my tripod along just in case we were going to get to view the eclipse.  The moon itself was spectacular –hanging in the sky looking over all of us and puffed with pride like a big harvest moon is.  The clouds danced through the sky with their different shades of deep, dark blues.  They teased around the edges until at some point during the eclipse it was as if the night sky said “Shows over” and the curtains closed.  I photographed the event and chatted with a very nice woman who had come to the park to watch the eclipse also.  Mr. Trent was tired and not quite as excited about the event as I was, so it was nice to have someone to converse with as time passed and I slowly snapped image after image of the event.   So for this Monday’s Ramblings there are eclipse images, not as spectacular as one might see if googling the event but each of my images are filled with thoughts, dreams and memories of a wonderful father.

Wow time is just flying by!  it has been difficult to write, for two reasons- we have been very busy and my words haven’t been flowing lately, which makes me a little sad.  But I am going to push through and hopefully this week’s ramblings won’t be too terrible.  Today I am going to talk about a little adventure involving trains.
Our little Grandson is a great admirer of the locomotives –big and small, old and new.  He is also very fond of riding on any train.  He really gets into a zone.  If the Conductor even takes a minute to talk to him the questions start flying-not so much the usual questions of most 4 year old boys –but in depth detailed questions requiring facts and imagination to answer.  He is a very smart little guy.
This particular train ride was special.  The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway brought in a steam engine –The Nickel Plate Road Engine Number 765.  I purchased tickets ahead of time knowing it would be busy.  The day was warm and a bit overcast but the turnout was incredible.  The ride on the train also included a stop where you could get off the train and watch it speed by, and board once again. 
We picked a car that was further back and not quite as full as the cars right behind the engines-getting the full experience of cinder and ash-but I didn’t get the tickets ordered quite in time, lesson learned for next year.  We boarded, and were waiting for the ride to begin.  There was some squirming and fidgeting but we all settled in and waited.  Slowly we began to move and the speed gradually increased the scenery clicking by, the whistle blowing, and our little grandsons face pressed against the window as he took it in.  All the while a clickity, clackity rumble calming my never quiet brain. 
I soon began to realize what a big deal this steam engine was as we passed throngs of photographers and excited gazers snapping pictures as we passed.   This triggered my imagination-of course- and I started thinking of what it would have been like 70 or so years ago.  Traveling somewhere special on a old train, passing through sleepy little towns.  And so my mind drifted in and out of time travel for a bit while we were on this little excursion.  Before I knew it the ride was over. 
We have always enjoyed the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway, and we do go on far too few train rides.  Next year we are planning to take advantage of this local delight a lot more.