The City Mouse in the Country

  So we stood there, my wife and I, looking at a train display in the window of a small bank, my eyes as wide as saucers as I watched the toy train chug around the track.   One of the cars had a moveable searchlight on it, and that brought back warm memories.                 My wife said something to me but I had already traveled back in time to when I was 8 years old and my brother and I were playing with a train set that took up the entirety of my grandmother’s dining room.    One of the rail cars on her train set had a search light on it too, another car had a missile that you could shoot up and into the tree; which was exactly what my brother and I were doing; trying to knock ornaments down.    Sort of looks like me.  Even has a beer.                 Even today I swear that every Christmas package...

                                        When I first decided to write about why I joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, I thought that one of the best ways to do it would be more me to tell you about my love of music.      I am not a musician myself, never having the patience to sit down and practice or put in the hard work.   However I grew up in a house where records and the radio were just part of everyday life.   As I was growing up I was surrounded by the sounds of Mel Tillis, Kenny Rogers and George Straight.   As I grew older I found myself drawn to bands like Genesis, Jethro Tull, Rush and Jazz music.      My friends however were all musicians, playing trumpets, guitars, drums and a whole range of instruments.   An old roommate often had band practice in the garage next ...