James P O'Brien

Somewhere the Train Goes James P O'Brien

"A good deal of my life has been anticipating the next move. When I was 12 years old, in late afternoon after I had finished my chores, I would walk my dog, Happy, a small fox terrier, below our Mosier home and sit on the rocks above the railroad tracks. U. S. Highway 30 was above me, the Union Pacific rail line and Columbia River below me. Everyone was going somewhere, whether by truck, car, train or boat. And here I sat." This begins the memoirs of an ordinary person who lived an extraordinary life, ranging from Los Angeles, California throughout Oregon and Washington during the nomadic years of World War II and then in a variety of global locations with memorable experiences throughout his adult life. Most people think their lives have been pretty routine, as I did, at least until I sat down and wrote about all the places I lived, the things I did, and most importantly, my feelings at the time. We become the sum of those experiences, allowing our emotions as well as the words and actions of others to shape us into the adults we eventually become. This book testifies how seemingly insignificant events and casual remarks can influence one's path in life. And that shaping continues as long as we live. Many people say they should write a book about their life experiences, but few ever do. I never said that, but then I did it. And this book shows how a normal life journey becomes something quite unique when it reflects a panorama of thoughts, perceptions, decisions and events. The message of this autobiography, if one is necessary, is that most people do live incredible lives, regardless where and how they live and regardless whether they record it in a formal memoir. That life should be savored by each in every moment of the life journey. Jim O'Brien