Ilene,

   Thank you for writing of these experiences.  They are a comfort.
Monitoring my father from this distance can be unnerving.  Knowing how
easily I eluded his observation in my youth, I doubt that I am any more
successful now than he was then.  Nor do I trust my sibling to
understand guy stuff.  Perhaps I should seek or invent some work "back
east", just to have an excuse to be in the neighborhood.

   Dad pushed me out the door to work when I made a visit in combination
with APT and some meetings of preservationeers last fall.  I'd say it
was a generational thing, except that I push my kids to put work first
too.  And yet, I am most proud of them when they drop work to do what
is needed for the family and friends of the family.

   Is the vacant Pere Marquette Train Depot all dirty and dangerous?!
How cool!  Send some photos!

-jc


On Nov 16, 2004, at 8:14 AM, Ilene R. Tyler wrote:

> My dad is in a temporary situation, and so am I, but he has his
> memory, and for that we are grateful.
>
> I hope to slip out today to do some work.  I'm working on a project in
> Bay City that will restore the old Pere Marquette train depot.  It has
> been vacant for 20 years, lost its distinguishing tower and canopy,
> and been pretty much stripped and gutted inside.  However, with enough
> community support and donations, we will return it to some glory and
> full use in the community.  I'm particularly proud of the project,
> because I have personal memories of the building when it was a bus
> station and in a central location downtown.  My dad is tickled that I
> have actual work in town, and he is pushing me out the door to do it
> while he stays home.  We are reluctant to leave him alone, but maybe a
> short trial is appropriate.  Anyway, it's not a huge leap from
> preserving buildings to preserving our quality of life, if we're
> honest about it.  It works both ways.
>
> Ilene
>
>
>
> --
> To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
> uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
> <http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>
>