The Train Ride

Hello All,

Marianne Wiggins, American author, wrote this about train rides:

“What thrills me about trains is not their size or the equipment, but the fact they are moving, that they embody a connection between unseen places.”

Little Mom mentioned multiple weeks ago that she had a few requests – she wanted to ride a train again to where she and Dad grew up and she wanted to visit Dad’s grave. Bob got on-line – since he is the king of planning trips – and searched a train trip that would accomplish both requests. My brothers and sister were enlisted – with two of them living in or near our destination – and tickets were bought and the itinerary set!

Our first planned trip we had to cancel because of a Covid scare – and, as we all later agreed, it must have been divine intervention since that weekend was raining, dreary and cold. Just this past Saturday, our trip became reality. One of my brothers dropped Mom off at the train station and then drove to our destination – so we could get home earlier that evening than we could have by the return train ride. (And, in fact, he beat us there! LOL!) While my other brother was waiting to play Uber driver! The sad part was our sister was ill and unable to join us. So at oh-dark-thirty, little Mom, Bob and I boarded the train!

There is something special about riding the train. From the minute Mom entered the train until the end of the ride, she was enthralled. (Actually so were Bob and I.) The sway and bumps of the train car, the music from the tracks, the song of the train whistle and the outside world passing by the windows, made the trip so special. The conductor was delightful and made sure we were settled. It was fun watching Mom and Bob guess where we were on the 2-hour journey. Bob pulled out his iPad so he could follow the train’s path. The two of them would announce to me (the one riding backwards) what cities and landmarks we were coming up to.

When we arrived and jumped off the train (literally – Bob and the conductor had to catch Mom!), the brothers and sister-in-law were waiting for us, and the day commenced. From brunch at Cracker Barrell – to the trip to the florist for flowers for Dad’s grave (And the florist gave Mom flowers when she learned what we were doing! That was so incredibly thoughtful.) – the morning was clear and crisp and beautiful. We explored the old cemetery – which is always fascinating – where one tombstone said “Hey, You”, which delighted all of us. We saw Mom’s childhood home – the locations of things that had been and had been replaced by new buildings (time does carry on). We walked the little downtown area. We went into the little grocery store which even I remembered was my favorite because the owner always had cookies behind the counter and would give them to us. (I now expect it may have been to keep us little kids from running around screaming. Smart man!) We had craft beer and munchies at what used to be the old drug store.

The day ended too soon. We bundled all of us into the car and headed back home, stopping for dinner at Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que where we all got hamburgers! (What’s up with that?) We were tired, but it was the good tired that is full of accomplishment.

It was a day of remembrance and thanks for our past that made us who were are today. It was a day of connections – cities and people. It was a day filled with sunshine and incredible Autumn weather. It was a day of laughter and love. A special day to treasure.

I hope you have many days to treasure. Be thankful for each and every one.

Phyl