The crossing lights did not work that day nor did they work this day. Hubby looked up to see one big light bearing down on him. Trying to stop, the car spun around and died. Hubby started the car and by popping the clutch he lost only part of his bumper that day. The cousin had left the car. Hubby stayed to save it. We still have part of that bumper...wish we had the whole car. Hubby said for months afterward his dreams were haunted by the train light. The engineer had not sounded the horn but he did this day.
At the beginning of my film you see a mine in the bluffs. This is a sand mining town and has been for a very long time. I imagine one day the town will disappear into the great void that lies beneath its hills. Once a thriving city with many businesses it is a smaller town now but beginning to grow again. In addition to the Unimin Inc there is Silica Transport and a new tiny grocery store.
We lived here a few years when the girls were young and Hubby worked at the sand mill as a laborer then as an operator washing and drying sand. Twelve hour shifts were rough on all. I'm sure the working conditions have improved while the mines still provide jobs for many.
As Hubby grew up he traveled much by train since his father was an employee of Missouri-Pacific Railroad and family could travel free.
The track runs along White River for many miles and is still in use today but only for transporting products not people.
Just another tendril from the vines of life that twine together and make me who I am. Where would I be today if Hubby was not a great driver?
