NOTE: This is a catch-up post that really should come after THIS POST.
4/25/2017 8:04 AM
Had a fair night’s sleep. Woke once to an irritation dream. The next time I woke it was about 3 AM just as the train pulled into Lincoln, Nebraska. It was a short stop even though there was a change in crew. Yeah, Jayne… I was in your neck of the woods briefly.
Two hours later, just before dawn the train pulled into Omaha. This was a longer break and gave me an opportunity to stretch a little. Their old station sat behind a fence. I wonder if they have plans of re-purposing it and using it as an anchor to revitalize the area on the whole.
As the train made it’s way through the mid-west dawn broke. It is a picturesque. Not that much different from the central valley except the landscape rolls and is doted with quaint little towns.
The first thing you spot is the water tower… then the steeple of a church, houses with porches, sometimes a pond. Quiet little hamlets. Yes, Rockwell’s America is still out there… and they voted overwhelmingly for the current resident of the White House.
In fact, Larry and I had breakfast with one such couple this morning. (Oh, I have to explain that you are paired up with others at the same table in the dining car.) Yes, I decided to have breakfast this morning… something I rarely do.
As we sat, we were greeted with pleasant but oh so tolerant smiles. They were nice folk and for the most part the conversation was easy. Yes, they voted for Trump, as the gentleman said, “… to shake things up.” Some of the conversation veered to “Californians” and how there is an exodus of them to other states, etc.
From all this I concluded that… yes, these people voted for a change… but it is really a change to slow down. Yes, they do feel left out. When once they were the ones leading the economy with manufacturing… now they’re not. And because of that, back then, they had equal voices with those of the urban East & West Coast. That’s what they voted for… to be noticed and given due consideration.
As, the train made it’s way through several of these towns one sees evidence of this. Buildings of red brick once used for either manufacturing or holding are boarded up… sitting dormant. Around them pretty towns with quaint houses containing many versions of paradise.
Then just outside of OTTUMWA, IA the train cam to a stop. Apparently the arm of the railroad crossing had not gone down. This had happened on at least 3 other occasions in the past couple of days so it was not really a surprise.
What was a surprise was I recognized the railroad crossing. OK… I really didn’t. I had taken the picture as we passed. When the train stopped at the station however… it looked familiar because of the stripped structure that I suspect used to have some kind of a roof on it.
I suddenly realized that I had seen it before… while playing GEOGUESSR! I felt an instant nerdy thrill coursing through my veins… when I realized that I had come to that very railroad crossing while playing the game. Laugh at me all you want but it felt like I had uncovered the Rosetta Stone.
Outside of Osceola a group of Amish boarded the train. I think their garments have a wonderful aesthetic. There were maybe 2 older couples and the rest were younger with children… beautiful children. Once they had established their seats on the coach… en-mass they headed straight to the scenic car and pretty much stayed there all the way to Chicago.
I had gone into the scenic car myself and had a conversation with Carolyne & Eric whom I had had dinner two nights earlier. We chatted while more pretty towns passed by. By tthis time I was not kicking myself for missing taking pictures of the scenery… as I would be coming this way again on my return trip. Thee conversation was easier now that we were more familiar with each other. I told them I was blogging my trip and we exchanged email addresses. I’m hoping we keep in touch… these are genuinely nice folk and we had common interests.
but
I also had a nice conversation with Matthew, a young Amish man. I was informed that the entire group were headed to a wedding in Michigan. I was interested in their culture and he was very free with information. I found out that he is a carpenter. His business is still new but he had his own store in Missouri. He owned 22 acres there but was following his own vocation of furniture making.
I was actually at how free and upfront he was in conversation. Even saying that there were unsavory Amish and certain groups who were becoming lax an liberal with their lifestyle… that was causing chaos. Heck, he even talked about the scandal where an Amish man had murdered his wife.
He was traveling with his daughter and his wife. I did ask if I could take a picture of them. His wife, Helen demurred… but I managed to get this picture of him and his daughter. I will say this through my observations… the menfolk are very attentive with their children and seem to have a very equal and loving relationships with their wives. It is the kind of loving respect that brough a smile to my face.
Finally we were on the outskirts of Chicago. Our train trip was coming to an end When we got into the station I was once again impressed with the station.
Larry and I said our goodbyes. He had a three hour wait for another train to take him home to Ohio. He was a good companion on this ride. We had very few interests in common… except that we were travelers on this trip… and we did look out for each other. We had great converstion along the way… shared meals and even laughed quite a bit. We connected human to human… and that’s all that mattered.
The train had actually arrived 40 minutes early. it was 3 PM and I was anxious to get to my friend, Carolyne’s place. Outside of the station I nearly went back in because I had forgotten to take a picture of the grand staircase that was featured in the movie, THE UNTOUCHABLES. Then I smiled… I’ll be back again soon and I’ll get it then.
It is easy to be cynical and say that one