t’s five o’clock on a Sunday, I’m sitting on the club bench on our porch waiting for the truck to arrive for unloading. I’m beat. But I’m happy.

Wotta show.

Came back to Deland for their two-day – haven’t been out since last April. The club’s been a little staggered, what with the passing our our treasurer. But this got the dust and frowns out.

When you think about it – our two track main had nothing short of three trains (and often up to eight) for the thirteen and a half hours we displayed. People stuffed the tip jars. People came up and talked about how we were their favorite. The show sponsor came up and said how many good things they were hearing. Even chatted with a couple who lived near Folkston and were excited (just from our three preliminary buildings and our pencil scratchings) about the recreation effort we were making.

And the trains. Double-heading Mikados. Pennsy ariticulateds. The snaking VIA train. Miles of coal and oil. At one point, we looked like Grand Central with all the passenger trains rattling past. Even had my new F units with that take-charge horn. And, of course, our LMO hoppers and Conrad Yelvington cuts. Finished the show with our own fireworks – everyone pacing the bullet train around the layout, just running like mad dogs (I discreetly slipped into a siding – speed is not an SP thing).

Made a little kid’s day – we moved the gons with aluminum blocks from the interchange back to the recycling facility. He backed in so carefully and looked so proud.

So yeah, we got shit done. I’d look around and we were engaging the crowds as we always do. And when it was time to take down, bu-bye. By the time I’d gotten four clamps off from muscle-man Loiselle’s twistings, half the layout was put away.

So, yeah, no better way to make money unless you are a nymphomaniac call-girl (sorry, it was the only comparison I could think of) (JW would probably approve of it). But yes, we came in and made that show. Good work, everyone!

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