Boy am I sad! My drive to work is 31 miles, but the drive is anywhere from 1 hour to 2 depending on traffic. While stuck in this mind numbing traffic, I would sometimes give Chile John a call and we would talk about trains, and how the group of railfans met in his basement to plan how to save the narrow gauge.
We would talk for at least a half hour at a time, and I burned through so many of my cell minutes that I listed John as a "friends and family" member. Hearing his stories was a great way to pass the time, and I learned so much of the CATS history, and all the work they did getting the railroad opened again after abandonment.
I always considered our conversations quality time because they were so interesting. I last talked to him about the end of June, and he had mentioned that he was waiting on surgery to fix the problem.
So
THANK YOU Chile John and the others who rather than wring their hands in dispair about loosing the narrow gauge, actually did something to save it. We will always be in your debt. Highball my friend. John Cole
PS. Chile John passed last Tuesday, July 14
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2009 12:13PM by John Cole.