If not now, when? I used to be a devout ‘beans and rice’ / ‘rice and beans’ girl. That was a lifetime ago, but I remember it like yesterday. It’s hard to forget. I believe that label either rings a bell for you, or you are probably googling it just about now.
I have loosened a bit since those long-lost days. In some areas, I stay close. In other areas, I am far, far away. The program is very personal, and most circumstances are unique, so I will leave the details of my experience up to your imagination.
The lessons I learned during that period of my life stick with me. Some good, some bad, but all sticky. I know the work is hard, and as I clip along in years, the ‘work 3 jobs strategy’ is simply out of reasonable reach. Yet, I persevere.
I am not alone in this endeavor. I am married to a hardworking man, and we are blessed with very talented, VERY hardworking children.
It may seem interesting to some, boring to others. wildly unimaginable to more still. My favorite way to travel is by train. Just Monday, I traveled from Northeast Florida to NYC. Yes, it took me 22 hours; 2.5 hours longer than scheduled due to an unforeseen delay.
This was my second cross country trip, and it most certainly won’t be the last.
The first time I rode the train was in the fall of 2022. I rode coach. It was nice. Seeing the beautiful foliage as I cruised along was just breathtaking. It was an overnight with a transfer. The seats were ‘recliner like’ and I had a very kind next-door neighbor/ seatmate. The route was Northeast Florida to Maine, with a layover/ transfer in Washington, DC. I didn’t sleep all that much, admittedly, so I needed a day to recover once I arrived at my destination.
My favorite part of the coach journey was the dining car. It was a place to buy some snacks, or a quick bite - nothing fancy- and then sit down in the cafeteria type booths. What I loved in the coach dining car was the idle chitchat between strangers, a kind of camaraderie of sorts. People were kind, engaging, and downright fun. People were ‘riding the rails’ for all sorts of reasons; each one unique and worth pondering.
So, this winter, when I wanted to head to the great white north, I chose Amtrak again. I selected a very reasonable coach ticket. After check-out, I was asked if I wanted to place a bid for an upgrade. My choice was a roomette, or one bedroom. I bid on the roomette. There was a meter that ranged from poor bid to excellent bid. I went with ‘fair’ which was on the lower middle range. Amtrak informs you 33 hours prior to your boarding if you won the bid or not.
You guessed it?!
On Sunday morning, I woke up to a text message informing me that I had won the bid!!
My second train trip, this time in a roomette, was about to happen. I could not wait. There is just something extra special when you are looking forward to the journey, as well as the destination.
The upgrade did not disappoint. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised with everything -from the service to the accommodations to the menu with extensive options. Attention to detail was plentiful. I found the dining car was especially nice, boasting linen tablecloths and napkins. Fresh flowers adorned the table too. The wait staff was pleasant, and the meals topnotch. The first adult beverage was ‘on the house’!
I returned to my cabin about 9pm. I planned to watch a movie on my laptop but fell asleep from the lull of the train. I woke up rested and ready to go at 8am.
Then, I arrived ‘in style’. New York City. I LOVE it! I had an amazing time and the travel there was the perfect springboard for my holiday.
So, if not now, when?! Step out of character, place the bid, accept the upgrade, enjoy the ride. Choo-choo!!
Thank you, Amtrak.
And thank you, my readers, for being part of the Ever After Community. I am very grateful for you. And I appreciate you helping to support our family and my dream.
Love!
Stephanie
