(soft upbeat music)
00:00:00.90\00:00:02.93
- Oh yes, stay right there,
00:00:05.13\00:00:07.47
stay right there
I'll be right back.
00:00:08.70\00:00:10.57
(soft upbeat music)
00:00:10.57\00:00:13.48
Hey, welcome everybody to
Talking Donkey International
00:00:13.48\00:00:16.18
and our new television
series "Country Wisdom".
00:00:16.18\00:00:19.21
- Let's set the tone
for this new series of ours.
00:00:19.21\00:00:22.22
It's found in Proverbs 4
00:00:22.22\00:00:24.22
Let your eyes
look directly forward
00:00:25.32\00:00:27.79
and your gaze be
straight before you.
00:00:27.79\00:00:30.86
Ponder the path of your feet
00:00:30.86\00:00:33.43
and then all your
ways will be sure.
00:00:33.43\00:00:36.63
- Join us now
for "Country Wisdom".
00:00:36.63\00:00:38.73
(soft upbeat music)
00:00:38.73\00:00:41.70
(train engine
roaring) (soft upbeat music)
00:00:46.14\00:00:51.08
Janice, this is exciting
00:00:55.78\00:00:57.49
because we're here in
Railroad Park in Dunsmuir.
00:00:57.49\00:01:00.49
And this was your
caboose at one time.
00:01:00.49\00:01:02.99
- Yes it was number 777.
00:01:02.99\00:01:05.76
There's a long story here.
00:01:06.96\00:01:08.96
I'll try to cut it down for you
00:01:08.96\00:01:10.43
but my father loved trains.
00:01:10.43\00:01:14.60
He worked for the
railroad for Southern Pacific
00:01:14.60\00:01:17.51
right here in Dunsmuir
00:01:17.51\00:01:18.81
when he and my
mother were first married.
00:01:18.81\00:01:21.34
And in fact he was a fireman
00:01:21.34\00:01:23.01
on the Southern
Pacific division,
00:01:23.01\00:01:25.01
running the Shasta line.
00:01:25.01\00:01:27.25
Now only a little
after a year I think.
00:01:27.25\00:01:30.89
The war hit Pearl
Harbor was attacked.
00:01:32.25\00:01:35.36
My dad was gone for
the next three years,
00:01:35.36\00:01:37.99
but he never lost
his love of trains.
00:01:37.99\00:01:41.10
Every year when I was a kid,
00:01:42.20\00:01:44.60
we would vacation
up here in Dunsmuir
00:01:44.60\00:01:47.70
and we would walk the railroad
tracks and search for trains.
00:01:47.70\00:01:51.41
And I just loved this area.
00:01:51.41\00:01:54.08
Now he died when I
was only in high school,
00:01:54.08\00:01:57.28
but he would get such
a kick out of the fact
00:01:57.28\00:01:59.58
that I live nearby now
that I'm up in this area.
00:01:59.58\00:02:03.55
And a little while
ago my brother called me.
00:02:04.92\00:02:07.22
Now my brother
doesn't call very often,
00:02:07.22\00:02:09.89
but he had a reason and it
had to do with this caboose.
00:02:09.89\00:02:14.93
You see, when I was
about three or four years old.
00:02:16.60\00:02:19.57
I got probably
the best playhouse
00:02:19.57\00:02:23.34
in the history of
little girls and playhouses
00:02:23.34\00:02:26.34
because my dad
bought that caboose.
00:02:26.34\00:02:30.18
- That was your caboose.
00:02:30.18\00:02:31.48
- That was my
playhouse. - And he bought it.
00:02:31.48\00:02:32.81
- Wow, can we go
inside and check it out?
00:02:32.81\00:02:34.92
- We can.
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- Let's do it.
00:02:35.78\00:02:37.42
(train hooting)
(soft upbeat music)
00:02:37.42\00:02:41.29
(train engine
roaring) (soft upbeat music)
00:02:41.29\00:02:46.36
- [Jim] Man I'm glad to
get out of the rain here.
00:02:58.74\00:03:00.31
(door opening)
00:03:00.31\00:03:00.98
(laughing)
00:03:00.98\00:03:02.04
- Wow. - Also this
00:03:02.04\00:03:02.84
was your playhouse.
00:03:02.84\00:03:03.95
- This brings back memories.
00:03:03.95\00:03:07.15
Good memories.
00:03:07.15\00:03:08.52
You have no idea
how many hours I spent
00:03:08.52\00:03:12.02
in this caboose as a child.
00:03:12.02\00:03:14.22
It looked a
little bit different.
00:03:14.22\00:03:15.72
- But I assume
there wasn't a big
00:03:15.72\00:03:16.89
queen bed. -
There was not queen bed
00:03:16.89\00:03:18.63
in the middle.
00:03:18.63\00:03:19.93
In fact - Because
what, Railway Park
00:03:19.93\00:03:21.00
uses this as a rental now for.
00:03:21.00\00:03:22.56
- Yes it does.
00:03:22.56\00:03:24.43
People can come and spend
the night in a genuine caboose.
00:03:24.43\00:03:27.10
- Tell me what it
was when you were here.
00:03:27.10\00:03:28.24
- There used to
be a couple of bunks
00:03:28.24\00:03:30.24
that folded up
against the wall right there
00:03:30.24\00:03:32.61
that would come down
00:03:32.61\00:03:34.04
and back in the
days when this really ran
00:03:34.04\00:03:36.44
on the Shasta division.
00:03:36.44\00:03:38.05
Crew members
would take their breaks.
00:03:38.05\00:03:39.88
They could sleep during
when there they weren't on shift
00:03:39.88\00:03:44.25
and there was a
little potbellied stove.
00:03:44.25\00:03:46.69
I mean a beautiful
little iron potbelly stove
00:03:46.69\00:03:49.59
that was over in that corner.
00:03:49.59\00:03:51.83
And up those steps
they're really narrow.
00:03:51.83\00:03:55.60
There was storage and
you can see how it goes up.
00:03:55.60\00:03:59.20
- Yup
00:03:59.20\00:04:01.17
- I used to love getting up
sitting on the benches up there,
00:04:01.17\00:04:04.21
looking out the windows
00:04:04.21\00:04:06.04
because when you're
three or four or six or seven
00:04:06.04\00:04:09.14
or eight being
up there felt like
00:04:09.14\00:04:12.65
I was in my own world.
00:04:12.65\00:04:14.48
- Yeah you were.
00:04:14.48\00:04:15.32
- I could read,
00:04:15.32\00:04:16.65
I could look out the
window and just daydream.
00:04:16.65\00:04:19.85
It was a wonderful
spot to just look at life.
00:04:19.85\00:04:24.89
- Now this thing is as big
as some bodies apartments today.
00:04:26.83\00:04:29.26
You know, say you
were three year old girl,
00:04:29.26\00:04:30.60
you have it all yourself.
00:04:30.60\00:04:32.07
- Well, I had to share
with my brother and sister,
00:04:32.07\00:04:34.87
- Was that a bad deal?
00:04:34.87\00:04:36.60
- You see, I liked
having tea parties,
00:04:37.71\00:04:40.24
playing with my stuffed animals.
00:04:40.24\00:04:42.91
And then my brother
Would, John would come and say,
00:04:42.91\00:04:45.85
all right,
Janice, back in the house,
00:04:45.85\00:04:47.48
my friends and I are taking over
00:04:47.48\00:04:49.25
and it would turn into a fort.
00:04:49.25\00:04:51.65
They would play games where
they were sometimes soldiers.
00:04:51.65\00:04:55.22
Sometimes they were cavalry.
00:04:55.22\00:04:57.09
This caboose has had more
lives inside more imagination.
00:04:58.66\00:05:03.47
It was just a
wonderful place to grow up.
00:05:05.20\00:05:08.00
- Now I may put you on the spot,
00:05:08.00\00:05:09.64
but what was the
caboose for in the first place
00:05:09.64\00:05:12.47
on the railroad?
00:05:12.47\00:05:13.94
(laughing)
00:05:13.94\00:05:15.34
- Actually it served
as a really good function.
00:05:15.34\00:05:18.38
You know that when you talk
about somebody being a caboose,
00:05:18.38\00:05:21.68
they were the rear end.
00:05:21.68\00:05:23.28
This was the
last car and a train.
00:05:23.28\00:05:25.79
And that cupola
that area up above.
00:05:25.79\00:05:29.19
- Yup.
00:05:29.19\00:05:30.33
- [Janice]
Crewman would sit up there
00:05:30.33\00:05:31.79
because from that vantage point,
00:05:31.79\00:05:34.10
they could look down
either side of the train,
00:05:34.10\00:05:37.67
they were watching for things
like sparks from the wheels,
00:05:37.67\00:05:41.54
any issues going on they
could keep watch from there.
00:05:41.54\00:05:44.94
- [Jim] There's a lot of
training used to start fires
00:05:44.94\00:05:46.54
on the tracks.
00:05:46.54\00:05:47.34
- They did indeed.
00:05:47.34\00:05:48.68
In fact, I told you
my dad was a fireman.
00:05:48.68\00:05:50.91
I honestly don't
know if they still have
00:05:51.98\00:05:53.35
that position on a train.
00:05:53.35\00:05:54.78
Probably not but
that was his job.
00:05:54.78\00:05:57.95
And he spent a lot
of time in this caboose
00:05:57.95\00:06:02.52
because this caboose
ran on the Shasta division.
00:06:02.52\00:06:05.79
The same years that
my dad worked there.
00:06:05.79\00:06:08.53
So he knows he had
to have been in this.
00:06:08.53\00:06:10.83
- And number 777
that's pretty interesting to.
00:06:10.83\00:06:14.20
- Now you might have
noticed when we go back outside,
00:06:14.20\00:06:17.94
I'll refresh your memory.
00:06:17.94\00:06:19.81
Right now it's bright yellow.
00:06:19.81\00:06:21.28
And it says Erie Lackawanna.
00:06:21.28\00:06:23.14
But in her heart she
is still Southern Pacific.
00:06:24.55\00:06:27.65
- So they changed the label.
00:06:27.65\00:06:29.05
- They did, here at
the Dunsmuir Railroad Park.
00:06:29.05\00:06:33.46
They had several Southern
Pacific cabooses already.
00:06:33.46\00:06:36.83
You saw some of
them as we drove in.
00:06:36.83\00:06:39.33
So they spiffed her up and
turned her into something else
00:06:39.33\00:06:42.76
because they didn't have
an Erie Lackawanna caboose.
00:06:42.76\00:06:45.80
How does it make you feel being,
00:06:45.80\00:06:47.64
how many, oh no, I
can't ask that lovely lady.
00:06:47.64\00:06:49.70
I guess how many years has
been but forget I asked that.
00:06:49.70\00:06:52.61
But how does it make
you feel being back in here?
00:06:52.61\00:06:56.68
- It's
bittersweet because as I said,
00:06:56.68\00:06:59.85
it brings so many memories back.
00:06:59.85\00:07:01.52
I can remember running
up and down those stairs,
00:07:01.52\00:07:04.89
climbing up into the benches,
00:07:04.89\00:07:06.82
out that door in
the front was my house
00:07:07.92\00:07:10.19
and out this door in the
back was my grandmother's house.
00:07:10.19\00:07:13.56
Just about ideal
00:07:13.56\00:07:14.76
but on the other
hand. - And your daddy.
00:07:16.06\00:07:17.97
- It makes me realize that we've
both gotten a little older.
00:07:17.97\00:07:22.37
Not you, I mean
the caboose and me.
00:07:22.37\00:07:23.74
- Thank you, thank you.
00:07:23.74\00:07:25.21
Your daddy bought this for you.
00:07:25.21\00:07:27.58
- He bought it for less I said
00:07:27.58\00:07:29.44
I had to share with
my brother and sister,
00:07:29.44\00:07:31.21
but I felt like it was mine.
00:07:31.21\00:07:33.35
- So you had a father
that really really loved you.
00:07:33.35\00:07:36.02
- Yes, he did.
00:07:36.02\00:07:37.59
And did I tell you
why he was able to buy it?
00:07:37.59\00:07:41.69
- No.
00:07:41.69\00:07:42.59
- You'll see
the cupola up there.
00:07:43.73\00:07:45.63
You climb up to get
that bird's eye view.
00:07:45.63\00:07:48.53
Southern Pacific was
scrapping all of these trains
00:07:50.00\00:07:53.47
that had cupolas.
00:07:53.47\00:07:55.07
And they were going
to a brand new model
00:07:55.07\00:07:57.44
that had Bay
windows on each side.
00:07:57.44\00:08:00.14
- [Jim] Where you can
sit on the side and look out.
00:08:00.14\00:08:01.48
- So you can sit on
the side and look out.
00:08:01.48\00:08:03.28
So they were
getting rid of these.
00:08:03.28\00:08:05.51
And my dad found out somehow
00:08:05.51\00:08:07.78
by that point he
was working as a dentist
00:08:07.78\00:08:09.88
in Lodi, California.
00:08:09.88\00:08:11.92
He found out he
tracked down the number,
00:08:11.92\00:08:14.76
he knew he'd been in this
caboose and his railroad days
00:08:14.76\00:08:19.19
bought it, had it
shipped to our house.
00:08:20.50\00:08:23.06
The day they
brought it in our backyard,
00:08:23.06\00:08:25.03
they had to
close the whole street,
00:08:25.03\00:08:26.87
shut down traffic everything.
00:08:26.87\00:08:28.54
It was like the parade.
00:08:28.54\00:08:29.57
Cause it's pretty good size.
00:08:29.57\00:08:30.97
- They hold this thing
on a flatbed I think it was
00:08:30.97\00:08:35.08
and brought it
into our backyard.
00:08:35.08\00:08:37.01
He had a foundation
ready for it and he wired it.
00:08:37.01\00:08:41.38
So it had its lights,
00:08:41.38\00:08:42.65
everything worked
00:08:42.65\00:08:44.19
and it was the hit of the
neighborhood let me tell you.
00:08:44.19\00:08:48.56
We also made the
front page of the paper.
00:08:48.56\00:08:50.49
I have a picture I can show you
00:08:50.49\00:08:52.96
of me with my
brother and my sister
00:08:52.96\00:08:56.10
on the end of
the caboose out here.
00:08:56.10\00:08:58.80
Took a picture and we
were on the front page.
00:08:58.80\00:09:01.27
- I can't imagine.
00:09:01.27\00:09:03.14
- That's as good as it
gets when you're four years old.
00:09:03.14\00:09:05.14
- Now I'm sure
since you were here,
00:09:05.14\00:09:08.18
how many years in this
area and here in this area or...
00:09:08.18\00:09:12.05
- I was born in Lodi.
00:09:12.05\00:09:13.52
Train came from here.
00:09:13.52\00:09:14.62
It was born here,
but you were in Lodi.
00:09:14.62\00:09:16.58
- Right?
00:09:16.58\00:09:17.69
- Were you ever
in this area alone?
00:09:17.69\00:09:19.02
Do you ever play in
the hills around here?
00:09:19.02\00:09:21.22
- Yes, every year we
vacationed in Dunsmuir.
00:09:21.22\00:09:24.63
My dad would bring us up.
00:09:24.63\00:09:26.06
There's an area
called Cantara Loop
00:09:26.06\00:09:28.63
and the train comes
down one side of the river
00:09:28.63\00:09:33.00
makes a loop over a
bridge comes on the other side.
00:09:33.00\00:09:37.77
And at that point the engineer
and the guys in the caboose
00:09:37.77\00:09:42.61
could wave to each
other across the river.
00:09:42.61\00:09:44.58
- Wow.
00:09:44.58\00:09:45.38
- And we used to come
00:09:45.38\00:09:46.75
and one of the things
we would do every August.
00:09:46.75\00:09:49.28
We would walk
that stretch of track
00:09:49.28\00:09:51.95
and walk Cantara Loop.
00:09:51.95\00:09:54.66
It was quite the walk.
00:09:55.79\00:09:57.29
I was a good hiker back then.
00:09:57.29\00:09:58.96
But yes, my dad loved this area.
00:10:00.63\00:10:02.63
I told you he would love it
00:10:02.63\00:10:03.77
knowing I live
up in this area now
00:10:03.77\00:10:05.93
- [Jim] It's got
some amazing views
00:10:05.93\00:10:07.50
and visitors around here.
00:10:07.50\00:10:09.10
- [Janice] Oh it does.
00:10:09.10\00:10:10.67
You wanna head back up?
00:10:10.67\00:10:11.67
- Yeah, let's do that.
00:10:11.67\00:10:12.67
Let's do that.
00:10:12.67\00:10:13.74
(soft upbeat music)
00:10:13.74\00:10:16.81
(water flowing)
00:10:23.79\00:10:25.15
Need to fly fish out there.
00:10:25.15\00:10:26.86
- Well, Steve does.
00:10:26.86\00:10:28.46
You know, he'll be
out here just right there.
00:10:28.46\00:10:30.96
He knows every hole.
00:10:30.96\00:10:32.56
(water flowing)
00:10:32.56\00:10:35.13
Man I love the
sound of that river.
00:10:35.13\00:10:37.27
Don't you?
00:10:37.27\00:10:38.30
- Oh yeah.
00:10:38.30\00:10:39.57
- I think that's
half the fun of camping
00:10:39.57\00:10:41.17
is being next to
a river or a stream.
00:10:41.17\00:10:43.97
And just having that sound.
00:10:43.97\00:10:46.41
- And I'm so happy.
00:10:46.41\00:10:47.68
The sun is
shining and the wrinkle.
00:10:47.68\00:10:48.94
Oh yes, Well you know,
00:10:48.94\00:10:50.41
that's what they
say about this area.
00:10:50.41\00:10:51.95
If you don't like the weather,
00:10:51.95\00:10:53.15
just wait 10 minutes maybe 15.
00:10:53.15\00:10:55.85
- So you used to play.
00:10:55.85\00:10:58.02
- Oh yeah. - All this areas.
00:10:58.02\00:10:59.49
- I've walked on
trails all over here.
00:10:59.49\00:11:01.89
All in this area.
00:11:03.89\00:11:05.19
My dad loved this
area I told you that.
00:11:05.19\00:11:08.06
In fact, when he and
mom first got married
00:11:08.06\00:11:10.90
and they moved here,
00:11:10.90\00:11:12.00
so he could work
for the railroad.
00:11:12.00\00:11:14.70
I think he would have stayed
and I would have grown up here,
00:11:14.70\00:11:19.77
but the war had other plans.
00:11:20.88\00:11:22.64
- So he went into the military.
00:11:23.75\00:11:25.48
- Yes, he did.
00:11:25.48\00:11:26.45
And he was gone.
00:11:26.45\00:11:28.72
He had mom had been
married maybe a year.
00:11:28.72\00:11:31.62
And then he was off
to India of all places.
00:11:31.62\00:11:35.79
That's where I
spent to the war years.
00:11:35.79\00:11:39.06
- Did you say India,
00:11:39.06\00:11:40.23
- India yes.
00:11:40.23\00:11:41.70
- India.
00:11:42.53\00:11:43.37
(laughing)
00:11:43.37\00:11:44.70
When I was growing
up and in the summer,
00:11:44.70\00:11:47.04
when it would be hot,
00:11:47.04\00:11:48.90
like pavement
melting under your feet.
00:11:48.90\00:11:52.04
I can remember
running from my house
00:11:52.04\00:11:55.38
across the street to my
friend's house barefoot.
00:11:55.38\00:11:59.01
And you were actually leaving
little prints in the pavement
00:11:59.01\00:12:01.55
because it was that hot.
00:12:01.55\00:12:03.18
But my dad,
00:12:03.18\00:12:04.72
you could not ever
say that it was hot
00:12:04.72\00:12:07.62
because he would tell you,
00:12:07.62\00:12:08.72
you didn't know what he was.
00:12:08.72\00:12:09.96
(laughing)
00:12:09.96\00:12:12.06
But I think one of the reasons
that I love it up here too.
00:12:12.06\00:12:17.10
One of the reasons that he
vacationed up here every year,
00:12:19.00\00:12:21.77
part of his heart was here
00:12:23.47\00:12:24.84
because I think it
had been peaceful here.
00:12:24.84\00:12:27.98
And certainly when
we came up on vacation,
00:12:27.98\00:12:30.58
you just feel like when
you're out next to the river,
00:12:32.15\00:12:34.35
when you're walking
through these mountains.
00:12:34.35\00:12:36.62
It just kind of,
the weight rolls off.
00:12:37.72\00:12:40.92
And I don't know what
your childhood was like.
00:12:40.92\00:12:43.86
Well, actually I
do so you can relate.
00:12:43.86\00:12:46.46
But there was an
awful lot of tension
00:12:46.46\00:12:48.60
in the house I grew up in.
00:12:48.60\00:12:50.90
But when we would come
up here to the mountains
00:12:50.90\00:12:54.00
for every year, every August.
00:12:54.00\00:12:56.04
We left that behind,
00:12:57.47\00:12:58.81
coming up here was
truly a mental vacation.
00:13:00.24\00:13:03.88
And I think that's
why I still love it.
00:13:03.88\00:13:06.25
Why we get out of
the car at a trail head
00:13:06.25\00:13:09.22
and I hear the
river and I just smile.
00:13:09.22\00:13:11.92
- Just the
attention melting away.
00:13:11.92\00:13:13.29
- Yes, because
those were happy memories,
00:13:13.29\00:13:15.46
consistently happy memories.
00:13:15.46\00:13:17.76
- So you really, you had a,
00:13:20.50\00:13:22.90
can I say a
terrible childhood is that.
00:13:22.90\00:13:25.60
I know you may
hate to say that but-
00:13:25.60\00:13:26.90
- I know a lot of
people might say terrible
00:13:26.90\00:13:29.17
for me it was normal.
00:13:29.97\00:13:31.87
It wasn't until you begin
to compare other families,
00:13:31.87\00:13:35.58
you know, you get older,
00:13:35.58\00:13:36.95
you start spending time
in other people's houses
00:13:36.95\00:13:39.08
and realize, okay.
00:13:39.08\00:13:41.12
And other families
they're not always angry.
00:13:41.12\00:13:45.22
My friends mothers didn't
disappear into their bedrooms
00:13:46.79\00:13:49.82
for days at a
time and not come out.
00:13:49.82\00:13:52.86
- Really, that's what
happened in you own Home.
00:13:52.86\00:13:54.40
- Yes, we had nannies
00:13:54.40\00:13:56.16
before it was
fashionable to have nannies
00:13:56.16\00:13:58.37
because there
were just long periods
00:13:59.87\00:14:01.87
where my mother
simply didn't cope.
00:14:01.87\00:14:03.67
She relied on prescription
drugs to get her through life
00:14:05.44\00:14:09.74
and they didn't always work.
00:14:09.74\00:14:11.55
And there were times it
was like a Jekyll and Hyde.
00:14:13.85\00:14:16.85
I can remember
walking home from school
00:14:16.85\00:14:19.32
and as I would round a corner
where I could see my house,
00:14:19.32\00:14:22.76
my stomach would
tighten up because I didn't know
00:14:22.76\00:14:26.16
which mother
was gonna say hello.
00:14:26.16\00:14:27.93
But up here it was
completely different.
00:14:29.56\00:14:32.10
Everybody was happy.
00:14:32.10\00:14:33.13
The whole family was happy
00:14:33.13\00:14:35.34
when we would
come and camp up here.
00:14:35.34\00:14:37.57
Now you also have to remember
that my dad's idea of camping
00:14:37.57\00:14:40.84
was a little bit different.
00:14:40.84\00:14:43.31
You might think,
00:14:43.31\00:14:44.58
Oh, we put up tents
right next to the stream.
00:14:44.58\00:14:47.22
No, we were
staying at a little lodge.
00:14:47.22\00:14:49.88
My dad felt like-
- That was camping.
00:14:49.88\00:14:51.82
- Yeah, camping was anything
less than a best Western motel.
00:14:51.82\00:14:55.39
- Okay.
00:14:55.39\00:14:56.62
- But it had a
little kitchenette.
00:14:56.62\00:14:58.19
And I remember the deck
that looked out over the river.
00:14:58.19\00:15:01.50
So for him that was camping.
00:15:01.50\00:15:03.60
He was not into
roughing it too much.
00:15:03.60\00:15:06.74
- Can I ask you and this is,
00:15:06.74\00:15:08.10
you know, kind
of the mindset of,
00:15:08.10\00:15:10.57
you've got this little
girl with her great playhouse
00:15:10.57\00:15:13.51
that daddy bought her.
00:15:13.51\00:15:15.04
And so she's got some
really fun memories there,
00:15:15.04\00:15:17.11
but you've also got
this other side of life
00:15:17.11\00:15:19.75
that wasn't good.
00:15:19.75\00:15:22.78
Now, where does it go?
00:15:22.78\00:15:25.55
I mean, do you
carry that into adulthood
00:15:25.55\00:15:28.19
or God has
something else in mind.
00:15:28.19\00:15:30.49
- God always has
something else in mind.
00:15:30.49\00:15:33.23
God takes with ever
twisted little mess your life is
00:15:33.23\00:15:38.10
and starts
helping you unravel it.
00:15:38.10\00:15:40.30
- I got to stop you.
00:15:41.70\00:15:42.84
That is such a great analogy.
00:15:42.84\00:15:44.87
Twisted little mess.
00:15:44.87\00:15:45.97
You know what, It's
a twist little mess.
00:15:45.97\00:15:48.68
I can almost picture that,
you know, and helps you unravel.
00:15:48.68\00:15:52.68
- Yes.
00:15:52.68\00:15:53.82
- How did he do that for you?
00:15:53.82\00:15:55.45
- First of all,
you know, in scripture,
00:15:55.45\00:15:58.35
God promises us a peace
that we can't even understand.
00:15:58.35\00:16:03.49
And it's because he
knew our little human brains.
00:16:04.89\00:16:08.43
There's no reason to explain
00:16:08.43\00:16:10.23
how you can have something
chaotic going wrong around you.
00:16:10.23\00:16:14.74
Whether it's
something from the outside
00:16:14.74\00:16:17.44
world events,
family falling apart,
00:16:17.44\00:16:21.38
a marriage falling apart.
00:16:21.38\00:16:22.74
But God still
gives you that peace.
00:16:22.74\00:16:26.82
That only comes from him.
00:16:26.82\00:16:28.08
It's not something
you can manufacture.
00:16:28.08\00:16:30.05
- This for you even
started as a child apparently.
00:16:30.05\00:16:33.25
- You know, growing up,
00:16:33.25\00:16:35.12
both my
grandmothers lived in town
00:16:35.12\00:16:37.06
and every weekend
my father's mother
00:16:38.16\00:16:41.96
would come by in
her bright red VW
00:16:41.96\00:16:45.17
that she drove very fast.
00:16:45.17\00:16:46.70
She had a nickname.
00:16:46.70\00:16:47.50
She was Hot Rod Lecher.
00:16:47.50\00:16:50.04
And back then before, well,
did we even have seatbelt laws?
00:16:50.04\00:16:53.84
No, we didn't. - No.
00:16:53.84\00:16:55.28
- And back then it was,
00:16:55.28\00:16:56.38
well, how many of the kids
00:16:56.38\00:16:57.75
can cram into
grandma's VW and go to church?
00:16:57.75\00:17:00.78
And my mother's
mother lived right next door.
00:17:00.78\00:17:03.72
We had a huge backyard.
00:17:03.72\00:17:05.39
My dad owned three
city lots on the corner.
00:17:05.39\00:17:07.92
So our house and a big
front yard were one city lot.
00:17:07.92\00:17:11.83
Our garage and
carport and driveway
00:17:11.83\00:17:16.33
were another full city lot.
00:17:16.33\00:17:17.90
You could park like nine
or 10 cars in our driveway.
00:17:17.90\00:17:21.54
And then on this side
we had a huge backyard.
00:17:21.54\00:17:25.84
That's where the caboose was
00:17:25.84\00:17:27.98
and a gate that
went to grandma's house.
00:17:27.98\00:17:30.95
I always had that escape.
00:17:30.95\00:17:32.61
If things got too bad,
00:17:32.61\00:17:34.22
I just went to grandma's house.
00:17:34.22\00:17:36.95
Do not underestimate
00:17:36.95\00:17:39.22
the effect of
grandparents in kids' lives.
00:17:39.22\00:17:43.43
Whether they're
your genetic grandparent
00:17:43.43\00:17:46.46
or an adopted grandparent.
00:17:46.46\00:17:48.06
But I could always go there.
00:17:49.26\00:17:51.23
And my grandmothers',
00:17:51.23\00:17:53.50
my grandma Lecher
would go over there
00:17:54.84\00:17:56.40
and she would just
pound on the piano.
00:17:56.40\00:17:58.57
I learned all the
old hymns from her.
00:17:58.57\00:18:00.78
She only had one.
00:18:00.78\00:18:02.08
She didn't know
things like pianissimo
00:18:02.08\00:18:04.25
or everything was forte
when she played the piano.
00:18:04.25\00:18:08.02
But I still remember
all of her favorite hymns.
00:18:08.02\00:18:10.65
And there are times when
those lyrics will come to mind.
00:18:10.65\00:18:13.52
If you wanna learn
scripture put them to music.
00:18:15.02\00:18:17.56
- What was her favorite?
00:18:17.56\00:18:18.66
Any favorite that pops in?
00:18:18.66\00:18:19.89
- Blessed assurance.
00:18:19.89\00:18:21.00
- Blessed assurance.
00:18:21.00\00:18:22.90
- I can still hear her playing
and singing bless assurance.
00:18:22.90\00:18:26.07
- You know, it's exciting
because we all have that
00:18:26.07\00:18:29.17
blessed assurance
through Jesus Christ.
00:18:29.17\00:18:30.91
- Yes, and I think
that when you were out
00:18:30.91\00:18:32.87
in a spot like this,
00:18:32.87\00:18:34.38
I mean, look around you Jim,
00:18:34.38\00:18:35.51
the trees, the little breeze,
00:18:35.51\00:18:38.41
again back to the
sound of that river.
00:18:38.41\00:18:41.55
You can just breathe out here.
00:18:41.55\00:18:44.65
You feel closer to God out
here than anywhere else I think.
00:18:46.55\00:18:50.36
- Nature's God second book.
00:18:51.46\00:18:53.06
- It sure is.
00:18:53.06\00:18:54.50
Now not too far up this trail.
00:18:54.50\00:18:56.40
I promised you
it wasn't too far.
00:18:56.40\00:18:58.90
We're gonna come to
some railroad tracks
00:18:58.90\00:19:00.77
and I'll get back to
the story of my caboose.
00:19:00.77\00:19:02.67
- Wanna get the
rest of the story?
00:19:02.67\00:19:03.94
- Yes. - All right?
00:19:03.94\00:19:04.74
- Just like Paul Harvey.
00:19:04.74\00:19:05.84
There's the rest of the story.
00:19:05.84\00:19:07.28
- There you go.
00:19:07.28\00:19:08.28
(water flowing)
00:19:08.28\00:19:10.05
The great
Catholic Monk Martin Luther
00:19:12.45\00:19:14.85
was so concerned
with his salvation that
00:19:14.85\00:19:17.19
when in Rome he
climbed the "holy stairs"
00:19:17.19\00:19:20.19
on his knees to earn salvation.
00:19:20.19\00:19:24.26
But when he reached
the top God flashed a
00:19:24.26\00:19:26.73
Bible verse before his mind.
00:19:26.73\00:19:28.90
The just shall live by faith.
00:19:28.90\00:19:31.93
That brings me to the
title of a Free pamphlet
00:19:31.93\00:19:34.34
I have that I'd
like to give you.
00:19:34.34\00:19:35.80
It's called AM I Good Enough?
00:19:35.80\00:19:38.34
It's easy to get your copy.
00:19:38.34\00:19:40.84
Go to
TalkingDonkeyInternational.org
00:19:40.84\00:19:43.85
and order offer
107 AM I Good Enough?
00:19:43.85\00:19:47.78
It will be a comfort to you.
00:19:47.78\00:19:50.85
(soft upbeat music)
00:19:52.22\00:19:55.26
- So these tracks are
where that caboose I showed you
00:20:02.63\00:20:05.70
started out its life.
00:20:05.70\00:20:07.70
And of course it was
built to run the railroads.
00:20:07.70\00:20:10.37
And then when it had
outlived its usefulness,
00:20:10.37\00:20:13.61
they were going to scrap it
00:20:13.61\00:20:14.74
and you would
have thought that's it.
00:20:14.74\00:20:16.54
That's what else
does a caboose do?
00:20:16.54\00:20:18.51
Then my dad bought it
and it became our playhouse.
00:20:19.91\00:20:23.39
So it had the second life,
00:20:23.39\00:20:25.82
but it wasn't done yet.
00:20:25.82\00:20:26.99
(train hooting)
00:20:26.99\00:20:28.32
However, I think
I'm hearing a train.
00:20:28.32\00:20:30.19
- I think I'll step at
least outside the track.
00:20:30.19\00:20:32.73
- Maybe we should.
00:20:32.73\00:20:34.56
I love that sound almost as
much as the sound of the river
00:20:34.56\00:20:36.93
that we heard coming up here.
00:20:36.93\00:20:39.13
Because it
reminds me of those days.
00:20:39.13\00:20:40.87
I used to walk
these tracks for miles,
00:20:40.87\00:20:44.57
trying not to fall off,
00:20:44.57\00:20:46.44
do not ask me to attempt it now.
00:20:46.44\00:20:48.21
- I know you gonna try but.
00:20:49.58\00:20:51.58
- But that caboose had the
second life as my playhouse.
00:20:51.58\00:20:56.32
Then after I
grew up and left home
00:20:56.32\00:20:58.59
again, you would think,
00:20:58.59\00:20:59.85
well, that was it.
00:20:59.85\00:21:01.36
It was lucky enough
to have that second life
00:21:01.36\00:21:02.72
that nobody could have pictured,
00:21:02.72\00:21:04.79
but it wasn't done.
00:21:04.79\00:21:05.93
My mother sold it to a woman
00:21:05.93\00:21:08.30
who ran a freight
barge up and down the Delta.
00:21:08.30\00:21:12.00
She put it on her barge
and it became her office
00:21:12.00\00:21:16.27
and a spot for the guys who
worked for her to take naps,
00:21:16.27\00:21:19.71
to sleep when they were,
you know, not on their shift.
00:21:19.71\00:21:22.88
And so it went up and
down the Delta river for years.
00:21:22.88\00:21:27.02
Then again, you'd think,
00:21:28.35\00:21:30.49
okay, now that surely is it
00:21:30.49\00:21:32.59
that caboose now
has had three lives,
00:21:32.59\00:21:35.29
but no fourth life it's
back here where it started
00:21:35.29\00:21:40.36
on the Shasta division.
00:21:41.13\00:21:42.20
And now it's a
bed and breakfast.
00:21:42.20\00:21:45.17
So every time you would think,
00:21:45.17\00:21:47.77
well, there's
nothing more I can do,
00:21:47.77\00:21:50.17
nothing more that
this caboose is useful for.
00:21:50.17\00:21:53.64
- There's another
life. - There's another life
00:21:53.64\00:21:55.64
something you couldn't be
even pictured ahead of time,
00:21:55.64\00:21:58.11
which I just think is great.
00:21:58.11\00:21:59.51
- No wonder there is a
train that's coming here.
00:22:01.02\00:22:03.52
Does it ever kind
of get those feelings,
00:22:03.52\00:22:06.52
you know, in
your heart, your mind?
00:22:06.52\00:22:08.39
- I do because
there have been periods
00:22:08.39\00:22:09.96
where I've kind of
thought like that's it,
00:22:09.96\00:22:14.36
you know, when my kids
grew up and left home briefly,
00:22:14.36\00:22:18.30
two of them came back.
00:22:18.30\00:22:19.30
(railway bell ringing)
00:22:19.30\00:22:20.10
But you think that's it.
00:22:20.10\00:22:21.64
- (indistinct)place and
watch the train, shall we?
00:22:21.64\00:22:23.04
- Let's do that.
00:22:23.04\00:22:24.41
(soft music) (train hooting)
00:22:24.41\00:22:29.48
(soft music)
00:22:34.38\00:22:36.85
(train engine roaring)
00:23:12.02\00:23:15.32
(railway bell ringing)
00:23:17.99\00:23:19.49
- How longer they used to be.
00:23:19.49\00:23:21.56
- Oh, much longer
than they use to be.
00:23:21.56\00:23:23.23
And they used to
put helper engines
00:23:23.23\00:23:25.20
into the center of the train.
00:23:25.20\00:23:26.53
- But you notice
what it doesn't have?
00:23:26.53\00:23:28.34
- It doesn't have a caboose.
00:23:28.34\00:23:29.67
No caboose anymore.
00:23:29.67\00:23:31.17
But my caboose, my
playhouse had multiple lives
00:23:31.17\00:23:35.81
that you just
couldn't have predicted.
00:23:35.81\00:23:37.55
And as I was
starting to tell you,
00:23:37.55\00:23:39.28
when my kids left home,
00:23:40.42\00:23:42.48
I have this feeling
like, well, that's it.
00:23:42.48\00:23:44.55
I was a mom for so long.
00:23:44.55\00:23:46.42
What do I do now?
00:23:46.42\00:23:48.26
So I can kind of
relate to that caboose
00:23:48.26\00:23:51.33
because I'm reaching or
have reached a certain age.
00:23:51.33\00:23:56.36
And maybe it's just women
who start to feel this way
00:23:58.03\00:24:01.07
or I don't know maybe
it's just me but I doubt it.
00:24:01.07\00:24:03.87
- I won't tell you if I did.
00:24:03.87\00:24:05.37
- No no you're far too smart
00:24:05.37\00:24:07.28
to say you've noticed I've aged.
00:24:07.28\00:24:09.31
But you kind of
start to feel like,
00:24:09.31\00:24:12.85
well, I guess that's
the end of my usefulness
00:24:12.85\00:24:16.38
because really, you
know, what more is there
00:24:16.38\00:24:18.52
that I could do.
00:24:18.52\00:24:19.49
it's gotta be younger people
00:24:20.59\00:24:22.06
or more talented
people or whatever.
00:24:22.06\00:24:24.59
But just like that caboose,
00:24:24.59\00:24:27.23
you know, had reached
the end of its usefulness.
00:24:27.23\00:24:30.37
- But It really haven't, right?
00:24:30.37\00:24:31.70
- No. - That's what's
00:24:31.70\00:24:32.77
so cool about God.
00:24:32.77\00:24:34.87
And you found the Lord and
it's just like in the Bible,
00:24:34.87\00:24:38.51
God always lays out something.
00:24:38.51\00:24:39.91
And one of the
things he laid out
00:24:39.91\00:24:41.01
is the story of Moses.
00:24:41.01\00:24:42.84
Moses you might remember
he was in the Pharaoh's court
00:24:42.84\00:24:47.02
guy really high up.
00:24:48.25\00:24:49.35
He had everything for 40 years.
00:24:49.35\00:24:51.09
I mean, he was on roll.
00:24:51.09\00:24:52.75
And then all of a
sudden he murdered somebody,
00:24:52.75\00:24:55.89
kicked out of the
kingdom, fleece for his life,
00:24:55.89\00:24:58.09
spends 40 years in the desert
00:24:58.09\00:25:00.90
as a shepherd herded sheep.
00:25:00.90\00:25:03.47
That was it.
00:25:03.47\00:25:04.57
- Never imagined
that phase of his life.
00:25:04.57\00:25:06.27
- No, but he
began enjoying life.
00:25:06.27\00:25:08.70
You know, it was kind of kicked
back now and enjoying life.
00:25:08.70\00:25:11.77
One day all of a
sudden he sees a burning bush.
00:25:11.77\00:25:14.18
He approaches that burning bush
00:25:14.18\00:25:16.21
and it's got a voice that
comes out and says, hey Moses,
00:25:16.21\00:25:19.71
you know Moses
I've got a job for you.
00:25:19.71\00:25:21.25
And he goes, Whoa,
what kind of job for me?
00:25:21.25\00:25:24.09
God is in that
burning bush basically
00:25:24.09\00:25:26.15
begins talking with Moses said,
00:25:26.15\00:25:28.06
I've got another
job for you Moses.
00:25:28.06\00:25:29.89
Moses is 80 years old.
00:25:29.89\00:25:32.13
Got a new job for you.
00:25:32.13\00:25:33.63
I want you to lead an
entire nation out of bondage.
00:25:33.63\00:25:36.67
You know, what would we do?
00:25:37.77\00:25:38.57
Well, he followed God.
00:25:38.57\00:25:40.30
And it was such an amazing story
00:25:40.30\00:25:41.90
for another 40 years he lived.
00:25:41.90\00:25:44.47
There's always something
exciting when you follow God.
00:25:44.47\00:25:47.88
I even think
about Colonel Sanders.
00:25:47.88\00:25:50.58
I think he started Kentucky
Fried Chicken in his 70's,
00:25:50.58\00:25:53.55
you know, became who
knows a multi multimillionaire
00:25:53.55\00:25:57.29
in a 70.
00:25:57.29\00:25:58.59
God has so many
pathways for us, you know?
00:25:58.59\00:26:01.36
And that's what I
think about in your own life.
00:26:01.36\00:26:04.23
I look at what happened in
your life and what God has done.
00:26:04.23\00:26:07.76
- Oh, there are things
that I've been able to do
00:26:07.76\00:26:09.96
that I never
could have pictured.
00:26:09.96\00:26:13.00
Couldn't have imagine
00:26:13.00\00:26:14.37
that I had the
ability to do those things.
00:26:14.37\00:26:16.44
Go on mission trips with you,
00:26:16.44\00:26:18.21
strap on a tool belt and
help build a church or a school,
00:26:18.21\00:26:21.64
mentoring someone younger.
00:26:22.94\00:26:25.78
I have a friend, a young mother
00:26:25.78\00:26:27.92
and we've just found
that we get together.
00:26:27.92\00:26:31.15
And I realized that
I'm a stabilizing force,
00:26:31.15\00:26:35.19
I'm an inspiration.
00:26:35.19\00:26:37.36
Not because I'm so wonderful,
00:26:37.36\00:26:38.73
but just, I make time for her.
00:26:38.73\00:26:40.26
- Think about that.
00:26:40.26\00:26:41.56
A stabilizing force
from where you started.
00:26:41.56\00:26:43.50
- Nobody would have thought
I could stabilize anyone.
00:26:43.50\00:26:46.47
And then here in
the last few years,
00:26:46.47\00:26:48.50
if you had told me a decade ago
00:26:48.50\00:26:50.94
that I would be asked to come
00:26:50.94\00:26:52.21
and speak at a women's weekends.
00:26:52.21\00:26:55.21
If that I would be asked to talk
00:26:55.21\00:26:57.91
to different
church congregations.
00:26:57.91\00:27:00.58
I couldn't have pictured myself
00:27:00.58\00:27:02.28
as there's someone who
wants to hear what I have to say
00:27:02.28\00:27:05.55
that those are
doors that God opened.
00:27:05.55\00:27:07.16
Because I wasn't
looking for those doors,
00:27:07.16\00:27:09.46
but just like my playhouse
that had multiple lives
00:27:09.46\00:27:14.50
every time I've
been about to think,
00:27:15.56\00:27:17.23
well, that's probably it.
00:27:17.23\00:27:18.57
You know, that was great.
00:27:18.57\00:27:19.63
I'm glad I could do that,
00:27:19.63\00:27:21.14
but I can't think of
anything else that I'm good for
00:27:21.14\00:27:23.54
or would be useful for.
00:27:23.54\00:27:25.01
God opens another door.
00:27:26.01\00:27:27.34
- You know, God
changed Janice's life.
00:27:28.61\00:27:31.15
He can change yours as well.
00:27:31.15\00:27:33.15
Maybe you've lost a loved one.
00:27:33.15\00:27:34.48
Maybe you've lost your job.
00:27:34.48\00:27:36.25
Everything in life
seems like it's falling apart,
00:27:36.25\00:27:38.62
but not so with
God, draw near to God,
00:27:38.62\00:27:42.06
he'll draw near to you.
00:27:42.06\00:27:43.66
Scripture says I have
not seen nor ear heard,
00:27:43.66\00:27:46.33
neither has entered
in the heart of man.
00:27:46.33\00:27:48.16
The things that God has prepared
for those that love him.
00:27:48.16\00:27:51.37
That's right now,
00:27:51.37\00:27:52.93
God has an amazing array
of things prepared for you
00:27:52.93\00:27:55.37
draw near to God trust Him
00:27:55.37\00:27:57.24
and he will
certainly draw near to you.
00:27:57.24\00:27:59.41
(train engine
roaring) (soft music)
00:27:59.41\00:28:04.55
(soft music)
00:28:10.45\00:28:12.59
Hey, thanks for
joining us for Country Wisdom.
00:28:12.59\00:28:15.22
- See you next time.
00:28:15.22\00:28:16.19
(soft upbeat music)
00:28:16.19\00:28:19.26