Walter Hahn is gone. He passed on January 7, 2004.

Many of us remember former CSM member, Walter, as a generous volunteer for many causes. Some of us remember him as “Mr. Coffee” at Coffee Hour. Most of us remember him as a truly gentle man. Several years ago there was a “nostalgia” column in the local newspaper about the old Cleveland Terminal Tower, when it served as a train station. The next couple of paragraphs are my best recollection of that article, as spoken from the article’s author. The words that are obviously not words, are intentional.

(Paraphrasing) I remember when I was a child and the whole family went down to the Terminal Tower to welcome Uncle Howard and Aunt Ida, arriving on the train. What an awesome place the train station was to a six year old. The high ceilings...

“Now arriving on track tjomthg, New York Central Train Number gugschht from Thght, Wescvn, Salabzt, Hquty and Sandusky. All persons greeting passengers from that train should meet at Gate ghtus.”

The marble floor and all those train tracks and all those electric trains – real electric trains. Some days later we came back...

Saw Uncle Howard and Aunt Ida off to Albany. I was so sad to seem them go – never did see Uncle Howard again. I associated that sadness with the train station.

The next time I went to the station was a joyous occasion. My brother, Tom, was coming back from The War in Germany and he was coming back whole and well. The War was over. What a thrill to see him coming off that train, proudly dressed in his Army uniform and a huge smile...

“New York Central train number xptluly will not arrive on track wruiom as previously announced, but on track puoirm. Passengers will be exiting at gate mnhpu. Luggage will be available at baggage station number fghut.”

The next time I went to the station it had aged a bit from its magnificence of the past; the brass stair railings were no longer polished every day, the marble steps were becoming cupped, the oak benches showed significant signs of wear and the trains no longer ran on time. But there was some security in the fact that one thing did remain constant.

Some things never did change.

The day this was published I saw Walter serving coffee at the Coffee Hour and went over to chat with him. After my long–winded rehash of the Plain Dealer article was finally over, Walter laughed and responded, “That was me! I used to make those announcements. I was the trainmaster..... That PA system never was very good.” My jaw fell! We laughed together.

I recently told this little story to Walter’s daughter, Sharon. She responded, “Dad had a great sense of humor. Remember him with your laughter!”

What a wonderful legacy.

Back in the Fall, I remember Michelle talking with some folks at coffee hour about an upcoming Storytelling Festival. As Michelle was listening, she got more and more excited about attending. As I observed this, I must admit…I was getting pretty nervous. So on the way home that day came the inevitable question… “Do you want to go?” Again I admit, at first I was thinking “you’ve got to be kidding me…a whole weekend of listening to people tell stories…in Kentucky?!?!” So, I replied with the good husband answer (excuse): “Do you think Bobby will enjoy it?… seems like a long drive for a weekend… and eventually settled on…uhmmm, we’ll see, let me check my work schedule.” The long and short of it is…we did attend and had a great time. For two solid days, we did nothing but listen to six different storytellers. They told stories of their heritage, their families, sang songs, laughed at themselves, etc. What truly amazed me was in this world of TV, Cable, MTV, etc. there we sat for two solid days and never heard anything offensive or inappropriate.

Although the event was entertaining, it was educational as well. Each of the ‘tellers’ in their own way continued to talk about the invaluable art of storytelling, not for entertainment value, but for family value. They stressed the importance of keeping memories alive from generation to generation, that we all have stories to tell. For some reason, I was struck by this simple comment. I thought how true that really is and how much we miss by rushing through hectic schedules instead of listening to and enjoying our own stories. In fact, on the way back to the hotel, we decided to try this out on Bobby and tell him some of our own family stories. To our amazement, he couldn’t stop laughing and wanted to hear more. I can’t think of a greater way to connect with your kids and/or the rest of your family.

This event takes place annually in the Daniel Boone National Forest. We have already reserved our hotel for next year. If anyone is interested in learning more about this great experience, let us know. This past year, we went along with Kim and Joel Langley, Stephanie Pritts, and Chuck and Kevin Garvin.

Many CSM members choose to receive the CSM Newsletter and Communio electronically, saving paper and easing administration. But currently, they don’t see the several items that are often ‘attached’ for distribution at the church’s doors. The Communications Committee would like to ensure that e–readers receive all the news.

Help Wanted: an ‘editor’ to receive ‘attachments’ and meld them into a ‘classified section’. We’d then append that to each e–issue of the CSM Newsletter and Communio.

The ever–helpful staff at the Rectory is willing to help channel data to you as items arrive. We need you!

What’s Required?

· E–mail to receive electronic files.

· A fax or fax software for items that reach the Rectory printed.