First I would like to point out that this is my first posting of December and we are 3 weeks and a couple days from Christmas. You better “start” buying those presents!
This past Saturday my present spouse and the two grand kids along with Dave and Claire, drove over to east Texas for a train ride. As you might imagine, my first wife’s van was full of people. It was the first time that I remember having six people in the vehicle.
Gabi and Alex sat in the back seats and watch videos both going and coming. The neat thing about that was they used the head phones that came with the vehicle. We did not have to listen to Scooby Doo or Sponge Bob Square Pants. The vehicle allows for the radio to play at the same time as the video player so everyone can enjoy the ride.
The drive was just a little over 100 miles and according to the GPS it was to take 2 hours to get there.
We all met here at, “The Ford Homestead” and then went to an early lunch before hitting the road.
Our route was fairly simple, Hwy 84 until we arrived in Palestine, TX then we allowed the GPS to direct us to the train station.
We arrived early and got our tickets. I was happy that the tickets were reserved seats so we didn’t need to worry about getting on early.
Our train car had seats facing each other with a table between the seats. There were three people working in our car, you should be able to see two of them in the center of the photo below. The photo was taken with my $5.00 phone.
You can see the inside of the car; that is David on the right sitting by himself. The young man on the far left is my present spouse’ grandson, Alex. Can you believe he would make a face at his Papaw.
You can just see Gabi’s pink sweater, her mother Claire next to her and the lady with her back to the photographer is my first wife. You have probably noticed that I did not get into the photo. I haven’t learned the art of Selfies with others in the back ground.
They provided us with Cookies and Hot Chocolate during the ride. They told the story of the Polar Express. We rode for about 30 minutes before arriving at the North Pole. Santa got on the train and went through all the cars talking to the kids and giving them each a silver bell during the ride back to the station.
On the ride back to the station there was dancing (kids and railroad employees) in the aisles. Gabi joined in but Alex did not. All in all it was a fun event.
We started for home just a little before dark and on the way home we were able to pick up some road kill. There were two raccoons, a possum, three skunks and a squirrel. We told the grand kids that we were helping the highway department keep the highway clean by picking up the road kills, when the truth was, it cost so much for the train ride that we need the road kill so we can eat for the next few weeks.
A suggestion, if you are planning on picking up a road killed skunk you should have plastic bags that you can put the skunk in it and seal it shut. My present wife’s vehicle kinda has a, sweet skunky order to it now.
Now that Christmas is so close you may need some suggestions for my Christmas gift. I have made a list and it is posted on our web site. As with last year, I will happily accept gift cards of $50.00 or more in place of a gift.
Don’t pick up road kill over two days old!
Don Ford
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