by Pa Rock
Rider of the Rails
Our trip to Van Buren, Arkansas, on the Missouri-Arkansas Railway has come and gone without incident, and now I find myself safely back in West Plains. I say "without incident," although a most inconvenient rain fell while we were on the ground in Van Buren. We had lunch at a 50's themed hamburger and breakfast joint in what appeared to be an old soda shop straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Later we nosed through a few overpriced flea markets posing as "antique" shops as well as a store that specialized in used books, muffins, and fancy coffee drinks. Everything was tourist priced, and there were no discounts for the cold and steady rain.
The last time I had been on that particular train, more than twenty years ago, one of the main attractions was the tea towel lady, a woman who lived in a remote area around Chester, Arkansas, who would run out into her yard and joyously wave a tea towel every time a train would pass. The conductors would blast the horn as they approached so she would be ready to welcome the passing train. We learned on this trip that she has passed away.
Thanks for the smiles, tea towel lady. You are remembered fondly by thousands!
Rosie was happy to see me today - you betcha she was!
Rider of the Rails
Our trip to Van Buren, Arkansas, on the Missouri-Arkansas Railway has come and gone without incident, and now I find myself safely back in West Plains. I say "without incident," although a most inconvenient rain fell while we were on the ground in Van Buren. We had lunch at a 50's themed hamburger and breakfast joint in what appeared to be an old soda shop straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Later we nosed through a few overpriced flea markets posing as "antique" shops as well as a store that specialized in used books, muffins, and fancy coffee drinks. Everything was tourist priced, and there were no discounts for the cold and steady rain.
The last time I had been on that particular train, more than twenty years ago, one of the main attractions was the tea towel lady, a woman who lived in a remote area around Chester, Arkansas, who would run out into her yard and joyously wave a tea towel every time a train would pass. The conductors would blast the horn as they approached so she would be ready to welcome the passing train. We learned on this trip that she has passed away.
Thanks for the smiles, tea towel lady. You are remembered fondly by thousands!
Rosie was happy to see me today - you betcha she was!
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