a point in Ray's life where he went from being the skinny kid to being, if not accepted, grudgingly admired.

I like this idea too. I think he would have been underestimated a lot, but he has that sparky spiky energy, that sort of ricochet energy that makes him do stuff even he can't quite believe he's done (maybe because he believes all that underestimating or something--must think on that). He can tell Fraser in "Burning Down the House" that he sticks his neck out for nobody and then disprove it over and over again. And "Eclipse" sort of gives credence to the idea that Ray sees himself as being shaped by single, determining moments. I'm so glad that you felt the train bit works. whew!

thanks!