Can you spell that?...

This railroad crossing sign reminds me of childhood. It reminds me of the times when Grandma would stop at a railroad crossing with a sign like this, and would present the following question...

"Railroad crossing, watch out for the cars, can you spell that without any R's?"

Being young children and not processing the question exactly as it was asked, we would strain our brains trying to spell what she had said without any Rs. And, then finally after we'd been stumped a while, and the train had passed, she would spell that for us - "T H A T". After all the question was can you spell THAT without any R's?

And, then we'd all wave to the man in the caboose and he'd wave back.

Oh to be young again, to the times when such simple things brought pleasure and excitement.

Now, as a stuffy old adult, I just want the train to hurry up and pass, so I can go on my way. Unless, of course, grandkids are with me, to whom I can ask Grandma's brain straining question.

By the way, the sign in this photo no longer warns of train crossings,

it now decorates the wall of a local restaurant.