Yes, absolutely.....with his 366W set received from his parents when he was a 'kid' of 26 years! It was tradition to bring the set down from the attic each Christmas, set it up around the balsam tree, and mesmerize all who saw it.......like me. A crackling fire in the fireplace across the room, the record player playing Bing Crosby, the gateman popping in and out as the train raced by, bubble lights on the tree, Mom's cooking bouquet drifting in from the kitchen....it was Nirvana.
Dad....and Mom...nursed this addiction to the max. Cereal box cut-outs and trinket offers, stopping along a road to watch a passing train, going to little-known areas of the city overlooking the railroad yards and engine terminal just to watch the activity, riding the train each summer to visit Mom's family 850 miles away, stopping by Roadside America as we drove my sister to camp in the Poconos, visits to all the department store windows and toy areas at Christmas time, building tables for Lionel trains, HO trains, reconstructing them from basement to attic, going on railfan trips, and, of course the birthday, Christmas, Easter (?), etc., get-well-soon trains.
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
What a ride.
And it's not over yet!....as my wife continues the encouragement....and addiction!
KD
