October Trip Installement #3

It was Saturday, Oct 18, 2008. You see how long it takes me to write these updates... but I have some good pictures to share. My brother and I had just finished wandering around the Empire Mine State Historic Park, as you may recall. We headed for the NCNGRR (Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad, aka Never Come, Never Go) Museum in Nevada City, CA to partake in preparations for the Great Anniversary Surprise. My parents, Uncle Paul/Aunt Amy/Cousin Natalie, Uncle Dave/Aunt Cathy and a few volunteers for the museum were there. We laid a spread for the "feast," and then my brother and I headed for SPD to pick up prizes for a quiz. This is the local grocery store (I think there are only 2 or 3 in the chain) where Mom did most of her shopping when we lived in Nevada City in '89-'92. The store still smells the same as it did before. Perhaps it is the meat counter, or the style of flooring, or the cold cabinets. Dunno, but there is definitely that SPD smell. We also picked up the requisite pink/yellow/green/white mints that "everyone" has at wedding style occasions.

Back at the Museum, we finished preparations and arrayed outselves more formally. And then we waited... my parents had told the grandparents that they would take them out to a fancy restaurant for their anniversary. No mention of other uncles/aunts/grandchildren... So Mom/Dad had to think of a way to get the grandparents over to the museum. Mom stated that she wanted a picture of the locomotive for the class she teaches. So they drove over... then Grandma became embarrassed because there were all these cars at the Museum and she thought there was some historical meeting going on there. She did NOT want to invade the meeting... so Dad stated that he had to use the bathroom and she needed to come in to show him where it was. So much for the lies... but they got the grandparents into the museum. And we looked on as they began to smile and laugh in pleased astonishment. They really took the surprise well, and seemed to enjoy the evening fantastically.

These are some pictures of the Museum and the GrAnSu.

1. The railyard, last April when I went to see my grandparents

2. Grandpa and I, last April, standing next to the locomotive the volunteers are making. It is to be an operational steam locomotive.

3. My shadow overlying the track switch in the railyard.

4. Aunt Cathy and her niece, my youngest cousin NatNat; at the GrAnSu.

I accidentally removed the picture of my grandparents while trying to move it toward the top of the page. Anyway, they look about the same as ever -- I'll find their pic and show it later.

After the GrAnSu, my parents took my grandparents home, and my brother and I went to the Holiday Inn in Grass Valley where we shared a room with my parents. We parked the car, outfitted ourselves in warm attire, and went for a late night walk through old town Grass Valley. Old town Grass Valley has a large number of historic hotels, apartments, and eating places. Very fascinating to observe, including a VERY large Elks Lodge, the Bret Hart retirement apartments, et cetera. We accumulated a large number of steps on my brother's pedometer as we trekked out along Church Street to Mount Saint Mary's, the school we attended during the '91-'92 school year. Below is a picture of the school taken during my trip in April. It is a good quality school... the main drawback for Protestants attending the school was hearing all the Hail Mary's and going to the Catholic masses. I recall thinking of myself as a model student. However, it used to be the fad to drill holes in the wooden desks with our pencils and write under the desk tops. Some years later I discovered my guilt over this, and had to send the school -- hm, either it was wood putty, or money to buy some. :-)

Sunday morning we ate with my grandparent/aunts/uncles/cousin prior to going on our merry way. This is my Uncle Paul, Aunt Amy, and Cousin Natalie after breakfast. Hopefully they don't mind the picture being up here. I think it's very candid.