Silverlight

NIGHTMARE ON SILVER-LIGHT

First time traveler on the famous United States Amtrak railway, I thought would have been scenic, historical and maybe romantic journey. 
It was a wet and rainy autumn evening in the South of Florida, I was early for my departure to New York, I was already checked in by the agents who were very polite, informative and looked like the only modern adornment, they spoke in a very southern accent. 
The quaint, authentic, very old, railroad station, was painted in beige and brown with benches for waiting passenger both on the inside and on the outside along the platform of the track, a newspaper stand, a ticket machine all blended in with the decor a small waiting area and restrooms that could accommodate four people, oh, let me not forget a vending machine. 
After validating my tickets and having them stamped I went to check in my bags on the side of the track which was even more authenticated than that of the entrance, however, the ambiance of 18th century decor was made appealing by the old scale, old boxes and suitcases lying around. The checking in of the luggage was the same method as the modern technique at the airport, for the exception of the scale not being digital and it had to be in another area. Everything went well, as I patiently waited for the arrival of the train, my well wishers and I reminisced on all we had experienced while I was in Florida. It was raining lightly and some times hard a short lightening storm. There was also an arrival of the Grey Hound Bus which had its final stop in this town where I waited for my long awaited departure for a 24 hour journey to my favorite city.
My train arrived on time, we walked along the platform to embark, it was a bit clumsy as the the steps were as a ladder with thick metal rungs at least twelve inches (12") from the ground. I was helped on board by a very polite female conductor and male conductor another took our bags and yet it seems like another looked at our tickets and showed us to our seats up until not the long ride, we seek was eager to begin. "All Aboard" shouted a conductor Silver-light 2339 (not the correct number)bound to New York City, next Stop arriving in 45 minutes. 
My Son and I glanced at each other, and I reassured him it was going to be a fun trip. The train began to move away from the station, we waved at our entourage who escorted us to the station my niece and nephew and an in-law who we lived with while we were in Florida. We looked out and the last time we would have been seeing Florida for maybe a very long time.
The ride began, it was 7 pm in the evening, our journey by train and car would end at 10 pm on Monday night. We had a full train at least so I thought, the car we were in was full to capacity, our immediate neighbors for 24 hours were before us, a man and a woman, to the exact right of us another man and woman, behind us a man, woman and child, who seem to be traveling with another older child and a older woman, these were together and who seemed to have been a family, I prayed for a safe arrival. The train slowly, clanked out of our station, there were another ten stations to go until the end of the train ride. The next stop would be Orlando, then Jacksonville, Charleston, Columbia, Selma, Raleigh, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and then New York Pennsylvania Station.
It was nothing I expected, we placed our bags in the provided luggage compartments and placed the our comfort pieces in the necessary places, head pillows, head rests and neck rest were all where they should be, snacks, coffee and drink cups, blankets, sheets and everything else to make ourselves comfortable, so as not to move around too much; after the third or fourth stop we went to explore, we found a snack bar it was stocked with all kinds of fast microwave food from pretzels, danishes, hot dogs, etc. the bathroom we did not have a problem locating it was very obvious and apparent where it was located, about six seats away from our seat and it was not pleasant as we would soon learn later on the journey.
The night rolled by nicely, it was not at all quiet, the noise, I hear but ignored, as I did not make it a problem, however, the passing passengers and the immediate passenger sitting behind us holding on to my seat and hitting and kicking of the seats were intolerable. We tried sleeping through it and ignoring it, as best as we could, as these people behind us did not speak English fluently only to curse and demeaned the fellow patrons of the train, (myself and my son) (it was as if they knew us and was taking out some vendetta) (I had to laugh at how disrespectful people are of other people's space)I would learn, later on that journey that it was mere rudeness and they did not care or know any better. 
My son and I slept as much as we could throughout the night, we were taking turns he would stay awake while I sleep and I would stay awake while he slept, as it appear, we both fell asleep together sometime during the night into the early morning, the people were not very neighborly, and I did not thought of asking the conductor to be removed to another car, as I did not know I could have asked, as I thought the train was full.
Morning arrived not a moment too soon, I went to the bathroom, to freshen up, it was a tad bit bigger than that of a plane's, as I have only flew from place to place in the past I could only compare the bathroom with that of the train; it was not pleasant, I did what I had to do and return to my seat, waited until my son freshened up and left the car, we went to the snack bar car to have breakfast, we stayed there two to three hours of the journey, we were now arriving in either Selma or Raleigh the middle rack of the journey. I was thinking about my daughter she traveled this journey to be with us sometimes twice per year whenever, she could afford it, I was hoping all those times it was more pleasant, because I made a silent pledged unless I traveled business class, I would never travel by train ever for the remainder of my life. The train I thought was an experience to relax into a journey to arrive at a place that one has not been to for a while or to call home.
Don, my son left the snack bar, which was sunny and warm, I remained there for another hour or two, I returned to the car, and to my surprise someone was just leaving our seats, Don went to the restroom, and it seemed as if someone was in my carry on luggage, I reluctantly sat down and waited for my son to return, we glanced and each other and continued on the journey, to my surprised, the person behind us purposely hit the seat as I drifted off into a nap, I got up and asked if they could possible control themselves and their child, to which I and my son and I was bombarded with insults and curse words, shouting began the conductors were now on the scene to which after lots of shouts and intolerable behavior were amiss, we were told we would be removed (both offenders and defenders) from the train or to me, if to another car, to which I responded that my child and I would prefer to be removed to another car.
Some of the nightmare ended, when we were taken to another car, which I was somewhat elated to see was half empty and quieter, we napped for a while, it was more comfortable. The journey continued with little or no disturbance, one heck of a long stop in Washington D.C. which caused some restlessness, the train was on time, and, also it must have been a stop to clean the restrooms and refuel if there is such a thing to do. We have "two stops left I said to my son, Baltimore, Philadelphia and then lastly New York. He was looking a bit traveled, eyes tired and a weary smile popped up on his lips. He fell asleep, for a little while, we walked the aisles where no one was sitting, the car was emptier now, we had a few passing smiles here and there; the conductors made their schedule walks and had a little chit chat with the passengers in the car, answering their brief questions, they, the conductors although showed a bit of tiredness in their eyes, were courteous and helpful. 
I really thought I would have met someone on the train, I did, a cuddly, sweet little toddler, who had her beautiful big eyes on me since we changed seats in the new compartment, I cooed and played peek-a-boo with her, for a while until it was their turn to disembark. 
The scenic views of the entire ride were mostly of train stations, bushes, some towns and more bushes, there was nothing exciting to see, old lumber and metal yards, farms of some kind, and fields. The stop in Baltimore, Philadelphia/New Jersey were lengthy as we were now eager to complete and end this weary time consuming journey. It was time, they called our station "New York" Pennsylvania arrival next 10-5 minutes. I went to the restroom to changed and freshen up, the train was on time, we the passengers were given instructions as to disembark procedures as this was one of the main and last stop, it was to done in a orderly manner. We followed through, we were carefully aided down from the train onto the platform at Penn station, we walked up the the second level to where we picked up our luggage after about an hours wait, we did so, quietly and cooperatively the "red cap" assisted us we were assisted to the street where I tipped him as he was very polite and helpful.
My son and I saw our nightmarish couple and child, waiting we exchange glances and looked away. We waited patiently for my daughter to pick us up, this was for another hour, I did not mind at all, we arrived safely at my favorite city, where the smells of food, the night lights and the people were all incredible (if you get to know them)I felt love, restoration and knowledge all at once, it was as if we were being rejuvenated from the train ride. We waited at 8th Avenue and 31st street, we spoke, made fun of the "rats" my son said he saw running around the suitcases, we admired the young people and the jazzy old ones, the food vendors were selling up a storm on that beautiful scented autumn evening, it was a refreshing and wonderful feeling, I really felt love and other mix feelings. I said to my son, "Honey, its been five years since we have been here,(exactly five years and a month) we may not have money, but I can try again, I love New York City, its life, fun, and knowledge, you got to love and appreciated and be appreciated as it is the wisdom of Godliness of all humanity.
My daughter Alicia arrived without a car, she told we have to take the subway, "okay" I said, we hugged for a good 5 minutes and exchange welcome greetings she and I and Don, I asked her for Alex and she told me he was home with their dad. We headed down 31st street towards where we would get to the subway to take us home.
There at the end of that ride my other son met us, we Don and I have not seen each other for seven months, we hugged and kissed and group hugged. We finally arrived at our destination 10:35 pm on Monday night September 7, 2010, where a new life and another journey and experience would begin, I am hoping it will end in my favor this time.
Good Luck folks and may your train, plane and ship travels be pleasant and up to your expectations. Many Happy Returns.