Memories Of A Gandy Dancer

PrologueAt a young age his life revolved around the next paycheck and nights at the local tavern. After three years he knew the mind numbing factory work, was but a slow death drowning in drudgery. The excitement of adulthood had long ago lost its luster. The endless cycle that he had fallen into with only a high school education he saw no favorable escape from. Traversing the highway of life between youth and responsibly there are unexpected bends and turns and even detours along the way. Decisions made, both good and not so favorable, affect each each leg of our journey. Late on a Friday night, in a smoke filled tavern, a seed was planted that would forever change a life. Full of a nights worth of drinking an old railroad employee steadied himself against the bar and said in a gruff voice, "If you want a real job be in Newton at 7:00 a.m. and I don't mean 7:01 either." Those few words were about to change a life. On April 20, 1970 a kid climbed on board this train. This is a collection of memories over thirty-seven plus years. It is the life of a kid who became a man during this journey. I am that kid and this is my story.