The other day I picked up my dog eared copy of Will Cuppy's "How To Tell Your Friends From The Apes" because sometimes I need a quick refresher course so I can sort out my neighbors. Then I got to thinking about us as Model Railroaders and that to some folks it might be hard to tell the difference. To the uninitiated observer watching a bunch of Model Railroaders in a hobby shop full of trains is just like watching a bunch of monkeys going ballistic in a cage full of fruit. Seeing a large group of Model Railroaders at a train show is like watching an enormous frenzied concentration of chimps in the wild. A Model Railroader will snatch up and purchase a coveted item then go off buy himself and look at it quizzically exactly like a baboon will do when he finds a pretty rock. If one did not notice the money exchange hands how could he tell the Model Railroader from the baboon? So from my own experience and observations here are some ways people can tell us from the apes.
- When a Model Railroader is dangling from the ceiling just like an ape from his cage it is not because he is an ape, it is because his step ladder fell over while he was installing his valance.
- When something hits a monkey on the head from above the monkey is frightened and confused. The Model Railroader knows that it was the light fixture he thought was secure on both ends.
- When he smells something burning an ape will screech and run away. When a Model Railroader smells something burning he will screech but knows he just fried his favorite locomotive.
- While taking a break for a beverage and a snack an ape will sit down and indulge himself blissfully with a stupid look on his face. The Model Railroader does exactly the same thing but he usually has his pants on.
- Female apes will hit their male partners with a stick to get their attention. Model Railroaders wives hit their partners with a fly swatter to get their attention.
- If given some sticks of wood or plastic apes will break them up in to smaller pieces. Model railroads will do just the same but will then try to glue them back together.
- An ape will look at a shinny object with wonder. A model railroader will first paint it a flat dull color and then look at with wonder.
- When an ape hammers at a rock he does not know exactly why he is doing it. When a model Railroader hammers at rock be he thinks is making cheap ballast.
- When an ape hops up and down on one foot while screaming its because he stepped on a burr. When a Model Railroader hops up and down on one foot while screaming it because he dropped a drill on his foot.
- Apes never read instructions before starting a project. Neither do Model Railroaders but they do read them later to find out what went wrong.
Bruce