This rail road sign is located on Madeline Island.  There is no rail service here, there never has been.  My father-in-law grew up in southern Illinois, became a man in Minnesota and was loved by more than I can count.  This was as he pursued his career as a teacher and an owner of a boys camp in west central Minnesota.  He coached and taught and was truly a man's man.

Age, a looming occurrence, found him one day at his home in St. Paul Minnesota.  He didn't realize what it was, but all of a sudden he knew he needed to go home.  By thumb or train, it didn't matter.  Mama was cooking dinner and he was not going to disappoint her this time.

He fell on the sidewalk as he eloped from his home of over fifty years.  The fall didn't bother him but missing the train did.  He has Alzheimer's.

After several elopements it was time to leave his home of fifty plus years, his garden, his corner of the universe.  His wife had to move too, the house was too big, and who would she take care of?

After a brief stay in assisted living, the staff there knew he needed more supervision so the proposal was to move him to the lock down ward.

Instead, he moved to Madeline Island, into his daughters home with his wife.  With a piece of 6x6 and a couple bolts we erected the crossing,  brought in 12 foot of rail, gravel and simulated ties.  A chair from his home in southern Illinois sits peacefully near the crossing by a sign that says,  "next train ten minutes".  He is not with us now.  Not long ago age, that looming occurrence took his ability to walk away.  He went to a nursing home, that clearing house for those who have been visited by age or other infirmities.  He still smiles when we visit, but I know he doesn't know us by name.  But the smile says something either  from him, about him or about ourselves.  I look at  this Madeline Island Rail Road Crossing, and sometimes wish he was still here waiting for the next train. 

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