Have you longed over the years to fulfill some ambitions which, due to life's constant interventions, never came to fruition? It might have been desire to see certain places, do certain things, meet certain kinds of folks, make certain things by yourself? Me? I've always wanted to pilot a plane, preferably an Autogyro or rotorcraft. Always wanted to drive fast cars. Considered studying Medicine as a career. And, most importantly, having always loved railroads, their overcoming immensity, noisiness, smell, and power, someday having and operating a live steam locomotive like those last tremendously powerful engines seen as a kid, in reduced size, scaled-down, but still large enough to ride on. That last craving was enhanced to live forever by a steam excursion trip I took while a senior in high school. It was operated by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad which ran smack-dab through the center of our town of Berwyn, Illinois. One of the excursions to go down historically, it was a "double-header" pulled by two locomotives, CBQ 5632, a Northern type, and 6315, a Texas type. 5632 was a much newer loco, built in 1940, while 6315 was built in 1927. The trip ran from Chicago to Galesburg and back. Mid-trip out, the right-side eccentric drive rod of 6315 BROKE in two, stranding the train and all of us in the middle of farm country. 5632 mightily struggled and managed to get 6315 moving against it's cylinder compression pressure, plus the entire train, to a place where 6315 was uncoupled and abandoned. The trip was completed about 4 hours late, 5632 pulling our train at flying speed up to 100 mph: the telephone poles DID look like picket fence! I was 17. The rest of my life I yearned to build a scale model of 5632; in 2002 I began work. 9 years later, it was complete, having required hours dedicated 7 days a week. Under construction: First outdoor track: Detail. Double-acting steam pump: Fired upon propane: This is a photo taken during the excursion. Immediately behind the 2nd. engine's tender is the Railway Express Agency baggage car with it's big doors open. I WAS IN THAT BAGGAGE CAR! Sep. 6, 1959. Do you have yet unfulfilled yearnings or desires? Have you completed some? Frank
All I wanted from childhood on was to be a practicing artist. Stayed on course fairly well until my twenties, when for some reason the intent slipped away. Guess I just didn't want it badly enough!
Just fabulous work Frank. We love trains, and as stated in another post - miss our Mitchellville we created. As a kid wanted to be a doctor or a marine biologist. Just never came about, but that is my fault.
My earliest memories of my father were when he came home from WWII, took me out to the local (grass strip) airport, strapped me into the front seat of an open-air biplane and gave me my first airplane ride. From that point on, I wanted to fly a plane. While working nights and going to college, I scraped together enough money to get as far as completing a solo cross-country flight. Learning to fly came easy. It was during the cross-country flight that I began to think flying was, for the most part, boring and not nearly as visually interesting or stimulating as riding a motorcycle. The sole exception to flying boredom was when circumstances prompted me to put the plane down in a cornfield. Flying was just one of many ambitions chased. As for unfulfilled ambitions, I can't think of any.
I too wanted to be a Marine Biologist to work with dolphins and other sea life. But it would have been too much math and and time. I did what was the most important to me and that was raise my kids whicjh I did a fantastic job doing and spend time with grandkids.
Love that train build, @Frank Sanoica . You are quite a talented man. One thing I regret is never really learning to play the piano beyond pecking out a few tunes. I'd still love to play but I don't want to be bothered with rearranging the house for a piano. I tried one of those keyboard things a few years ago but it's just not the same at all.
I never aimed too high, never had much ambition, schooling was hard on me because I missed so much, never got a basic educational foundation, knew I would always be dumb. I suppose I reached the highest of my ambitions (if I ever had any) riding a motorcycle, attending a rally, and riding hell-bent in the mountains of New Mexico. Riding a few hundred miles across country to and fro. I did that yet realized I'm still a ignoramus, really incaple of supporting a family adequately or achieving much. Knowing I would never amount to the cost of the salt that went into making the bread that fead me. No, I have never had any such ambitions. Sorely lacking, I is who I is.
@Bill Boggs But belittling yourself hides those things you did and achieved that others never even came close to! In my case, I've always been interested in motorcycles, ever since my sister's boyfriend came rumbling in to our driveway, my dad swearing what the hell is that noise, the rider wearing typical black leather and big black boots. It was a huge Harley with fat tires, gearshift knob and lever mounted on top of gas tank, I think the clutch was foot operated. Now, I've always wanted to drive one, but never have, so you are "one up" on me! Frank
I can’t remember any ambitions that I had that weren’t fulfilled. I never aimed particularly high so the ambitions I had were more middle of the road and attainable. I saw a good part of the world in the service and I worked for the job I wanted and got it. Other than that, I just wanted to be left alone to do what I wanted like enjoying my hobbies. Sometimes I wonder what life would have been like if I took a different path, but I see others who had taken that path to disaster, so I live with what was. Some unobtainables in my mind are WWII fighter pilot and explorer, but that’s just dreaming.
@Ed Wilson So as I do, you wonder what life would have been like, or could have, if.......... In reality, you should not "write off" and accept "what was" so readily. As I think back, I often realize how many times I "missed the boat", or went too far forward and was treading in dangerous water, but fortunately the activities with the most personal risk remained mine, and mine alone, because I knew how to keep my mouth shut without ego intervention. The things I considered harmless fun carried the most risk, though: high voltage experiments, guns, explosives. I haven't mentioned that I've always wanted to build a cannon...... Frank
One my my husband's dream was to build his own boat. Along with some other smaller boats. By the time he built the boat (while working everyday) it took him a year. It has only been in the water 5 times. By the time he finished, the are lakes started charging fees for entry, plus no more entry into areas he fished. Anyways the boat still sits in the garage ..literally can not give it away! If he is building something. has to move it in and out . Plus I have heard him mention that his balance is not what it use to be. Really breaks my heart that he worked so hard and long on something that has become an albatross to him.
We have had a few boats and now like you just don'ttake this last one out much. Its the smallest one we have had since we don't go out tosea at all anymore. Never went far out anyway. Hubby wanted to go out lasy Wednesday but I am just tired of the rivers areound here.
You must have done something right ,your still here with us seniors alive and kicking. Besides leave all the criticiism to others.
Resurrecting this thread because it fits in with my mood today. I haven't done any work in my studio/shop in a couple of years. I accomplished all the many ambitions I had after early retirement 18 years ago. I accomplished so many things in my younger years that I am now trying to find an unfulfilled ambition that is realistic. I always wanted to travel, but that is off the table for good. Thinking about Frank and his many talents accomplished to a master level. I have had no word from him for a few weeks now, so nothing new to share in that respect. What are your unfulfilled ambitions and are they realistic considering your health and current situation?