The Train Ride

ridingabigtrainisoneofthebestwaystotravelacrossthecountrywearriveattheloudstationveryearlyinthemorningcarryingourheavybagsthebuildingishugewithahighglassceilingandshinyfloorspeoplearewalkingfastineverydirectionlookingatthelargeboardwithnumbersandtimesonitourtrainiswaitingonthetrackanditlookslikealongsilversnakerestingonthemetalrailsamaninablueuniformtakesourticketsandhelpsusfindourseatsnearawidecleanwindowwhenthetrainstartstomoveitmakesadeeprumblingsoundandslowlypullsawayfromtheplatformwesitbackinthesoftchairsandwatchthecityslidepastoutsidethebuildingsgetsmallerandsmalleruntiltheyarereplacedbyopengreenfieldsandthickforeststhebestthingaboutthetrainisthatyoudonothavetowearaseatbeltandyoucanstandupandwalkaroundwheneveryouwantwegotothefoodcartobuyahotcupofteaandasweetcookiesittingatasmalltablewewatchcowsgrazinginthegrassandfarmersdrivingbiggreentractorsthetrainrocksgentlyfromsidetosideandthesteadyclackclacksoundofthewheelsonthetracksisveryrelaxingitisalmostlikeaquietsongthatmakesyouwanttocloseyoureyesandtakeanaplaterintheafternoonthescenerychangesagainandwebegintoclimbupintothetallrockymountainswegothroughdarktunnelswhereeverythingturnsblackforafewminutesandthenburstbackoutintothebrightsunlightcrossingoverhighbridgesthatstretchacrossdeeprushingriversitisamazingtoseehowmuchthelandchangesinjustafewhourstravelingbycarcanbeverystressfulbecausesomeonealwayshastowatchtheroadanddealwithtrafficbutonthetraineveryonecanjustrelaxandenjoythebeautifulviewoutsideitisaslowandpeacefulwaytomovefromoneplacetoanothergivingyoutimetothinkandreadagoodbookorjustsitquietlyandwatchtheworldgobywhenwefinallyarriveatourstopthesunisstartingtogodownandtheskyispaintedwithbrightorangeandpinkcolorswegrabourbagsandstepoffthetrainfeelinghappyandrestedreadytostartournewadventureinanewtowntypingoutthisstoryhelpsmebuildmystaminaforlongwritingtestsmyhandsfeelstrongandiamnotlookingdownatthekeyboardanymoreiamjustlettingthewordsflowfrommymindstraighttothescreenfindingagoodsteadypacetokeeptheerrorslow