Chris I finally read this. Another awesome story. I don't know how you did it while trying to get ready to move, not just to another house, but to another continent!
I think the reminiscing is almost always better than the reactions. Hearing stories from our parents and grandparents is so special, even stories we've heard a million times.
This reminds me of something my Dad did for my Grandpa years ago.
Thanks Trippy. It seems there is always time in a busy schedule for things like this. For years it's been impossible to "Buy" my dad something for Christmas or his birthday. He has everything, his house if full of clutter and he doesn't need any trinkets or tools. So this made sense. The cool part is, he is still talking about it and he has spoken to his sister on the phone and they both have reminisced about playing with it as a child. So it was a two pronged present.
The train is now packaged up, each car in a ziplock bag, ready for the long trip to Italy.