John always fanned whatever interest our family had in trains. When great nephew CJ heard we were going to Promontory, he and Lauren took the day off to drive us there. If you remember, in 1862 President Lincoln signed the legislation to build a transcontinental railroad. I remembered because John was telling me about it on a need-to-know basis. The Union Pacific started laying track in Omaha, Nebraska going west, and Central Pacific began in California going east. When they met, there was a Golden Spike ceremony celebrating the completion of a rail line going from coast to coast. Below is a photo taken that day in 1869.

A few weeks ago there was another big ceremony at Promontory for the 150^th anniversary of that event. John said 2,000 people attended. We were happy the place was practically empty when we saw it. The two reproduction steam engines moved into place, as the originals did 150 years ago. I have a photo from a distance and a closeup with John, CJ, and Lauren.

Lauren supports CJ’s interests, as a perfect wife would. Here is a sweet pose, when she was tired and he was caught up in train things with John.

On the way back to their apartment, they picked up Lauren’s sisters, Kaitlin and Megan. Both are working at Deer Valley Resort. Kaitlin has moved to Utah, and Megan is working there this summer. A bit too late, we proposed to get take-out food, but Lauren had already started cooking dinner. It had been a long day for everyone. The meal was delicious – pasta with sauce made previously by Kaitlin and a lovely tossed salad. Kaitlin, CJ, and Lauren sat at the counter with me to eat and chat. We talked about our very first jobs, and I found it most interesting.

Megan and John sat on the sofa to eat, and they talked for a long time, one-on-one.

Someone mentioned wedding photographs the day before, and that’s when I found out Lauren and CJ did not have photos of their wedding. It’s a long story, and it’s not mine to tell. The fun thing is, I had the pictures I took that day on my laptop. In seconds, tech-wizard CJ was showing them on their big TV screen. If anyone reading this has photos of their wedding, could you please share them with CJ?

One of the pictures taken that weekend showed a group of us there for the wedding. CJ cropped the shot to show his cousin Anders, who is also our nephew. CJ said, “That’s Anders.”

He said it in such a way that someone asked why Anders was so special. CJ said, “Have you ever had a mentor that you really admired and wanted to be like? Anders is my role model.”

I think it was Kaitlin who said, “Yes. That was Lauren for me.”

We stayed later than we should have, because the evening was so special for us. The young people, including Zeb and Bri, went out of their way to do things with and for us. They are warm, outgoing, sensitive, and caring. I am so proud to be related to all of them. I’m including everyone, though it’s a mouthful to explain two are sisters of our great nephew’s wife. We love you all!

CJ and Lauren — Thank you very much for guiding us around and taking a day off to be with us.  Spending time with you was very, very special, and we appreciate it.