Toot, toot, six

Riding the rails

Or

Riding the Rails

Well, once again Rosy was late; she almost missed the train again.   I had such a good time yesterday, I forgot to think about breakfast, so did everybody else...  We rolled through Topeka sometime during the night, and will soon be arriving in Jefferson City.  Ernie says he doesn’t believe we will be here long, and since he’s been here as a trucker, that he and Tall Dude will make a quick run to a neighborhood store for some ‘grub’.  That sounds good to me.

We got a couple of good chuckles last evening.  The first one being Vince came through big time.  After our sandwiches we were ‘chewing the fat’ and mentioned how we wished we had some kind of cooking device.  Vince burped and says, “How about a sterno stove?”  Strange looks went around the group…’do they even make them anymore?'  Turns out they do.  We fell all over each other in fits of giggles…of all the contraptions we had thought about…the answer was right under our noses.  Over thought this for sure…while they are out we’re hoping Ernie and Tall Dude find a Camping/Outdoor Supply Store that sells Sterno Stoves.  We will all gladly chip in for this life saver.

Next, it looks as though spring and love is in the air.  Vince and Rosy are acting worse than teenagers.  She finds him and his stories adorable, and he, like a high school ‘jock’, enjoys entertaining her with them, and his antics.  This morning is a good example.  Since most of us crave coffee in the morning, and water is at a premium; Vince decides he can solve the problem, and promptly puts some instant coffee in his mouth and begins to chew.  First a peculiar look comes over his face, he chews and chews.  Then he starts to sputter and choke, coughs, bits of instant coffee powder emits from his mouth…he coughs again, inhales deeply…covers his mouth, and... if you’ve never seen instant coffee come out someone’s nostrils…I guarantee it will have you on the floor.  Rosy, gives him a good whomp on the back, nearly knocking him over, and somebody offers him some water.  Whatever coffee was left in his mouth was eventually swallowed, and it’s safe to say he had his coffee fix for the morning.  Meantime, we are all in the throes of hysteria, great way to start the day.  It can only get better from here.

Ernie was right, we were not to be in Jefferson City very long; so his suggestion that he and Tall Dude do the shopping, and look for a Sterno Stove was a good one, but I was terrified that he and Tall Dude would miss the train.  While they were gone, we took turns taking our dogs out to do their duty.  It is quite tricky, looking as though you are a citizen of Jefferson City just out for a morning stroll.  For the most part there are few employees around, unless there is activity in the vicinity of a train pulling in or out.  In our case today, there are people around, so, looking as though you belong is very important.

I was delighted to see our male companions return, and they were loaded with good stuff, food, post cards, a few small mementos, and yes, they did find a one burner Sterno Stove.  Cost about fifty bucks, but we ladies figure it’s worth every penny.  We will be having some foods warm from here on out.  Now I know why it has been so important to carry a book of matches wrapped in plastic in my purse all these years, they will finally come in handy.

Looks like we are ready to roll, but before I sign off, I have a confession to make…this train is not really going to Clarksville, Indiana, but I like the song ‘Last Train to Clarksville’, and it was a great way to get our excursion underway.  However, our next stop is Indianapolis and Ernie says that’s where he’s getting off the train.  That news was very disappointing.  He says, with the Indy 500 coming up next month Indianapolis is a good place to get temporary work, and goes there every year.

Bummer, wish now I would have put this vacation off for another month, I’ve always wanted to be at an Indy 500.  Boo, Hiss.  Could have made a ‘pit stop’ there for a week or so and then headed to NYC.  Oh, well that’s life.

Ernie will be missed, he’s been the cool, calm voice of reason on this trip, but we all have destinations where we want to end up.  I asked Tall Dude if he was getting off with Ernie, and he shook his head no adding “Don’t know how old you ladies are, but kinda like lookin’ after ya.  Besides, I ain’t in no hurry, don’t got to be nowhere.  An’ ain’t never been ta New York.” 

Well, God bless him.