I Finally Get to Take the Train!

I finally got to take the train yesterday. Was it worth the trouble is the big question? The kids were off from school for their start of Spring Break; subsequently the wife didn't have to go to work. This allowed me to leave for work on my schedule and take the train rather than having to wait for the kids bus to leave and drive.

Well getting to the train ended up being just a comedy of errors. But first you need a little background information though. I can pick up the train from one of two different locations. One is closer to my house but doesn't sell tickets. The other is a bit farther but does sell them. Since I didn't have any ten ride punches left, I made the decision the night before to take the train from the farther station. That morning, I had the trip to train planned out to make it there with enough time to go into the station and purchase a ticket. As you will soon see nothing went as planned. The train leaves the farther station at 6:55 am and 7:00 am at the closer one.

Here's the play by play on how my morning went from there...

6:30:00- Start getting my stuff together to leave for the train
6:31:00- Dog decides it needs to go out. Since everyone is sleeping, I do it.
6:36:00- After dog takes good old time doing his business, I get back in the house.
6:37:00- Realize I don't have parking money; root through change jar for $1.25
6:38:00- Wife comes down and asks for me to drop off video at library on way to train.
Note: Library is on way to close train, but out of the way to far train station. While, I'd be cutting it close, I can still make it to far train at this point.
6:39:00- Go out door to get in car. Car windows are frozen over and will need to be scraped.
6:39:30- Make decision that I can't make it to far station in time for train.
6:39:45- Realize I will need cash. Start car to defrost windows and go inside to find money.
6:40:00- Root through wife's purse to find money.
6:41:00- Start heading out door and realize I will need extra quarter for parking.
6:41:30- Dig through change jar again for extra quarter
6:42:00- Head out to car and realize I forgot to turn the defroster on.
6:42:30- Swear a bit and start scraping windows
6:44:00- Leave for train.
6:46:00- Come up to accident that has occurred on route to train. Traffic is still passing.
6:46:30- I am the next car to pass and ambulance comes and blocks intersection.
6:47:00- I am forced to take a circuitous and much longer route to library.
6:52:00- I enter library parking lot, but old woman is walking dog near book drop off.
6:53:00- Old woman finally gets out of way and I am able to drop off movie.
6:53:30- I drive like maniac to train station.
6:58:00- I see dead cat with big pool of blood; makes stomach sick
6:58:15- I come flying into train parking lot and slam car into nearest parking space.
6:58:30- I run through parking lot to parking space pay machine.
6:59:00- I encounter stupid people trying to work pay machine.
6:59:59- I finally get turn at pay machine but coin drop is not cooperating.
7:00:00- Train is pulling into station.
7:00:05- I finally get pay machine to work; sprint to train just as door are about to close. Whew!

I at numerous points wondered if some higher power didn't want want me on the train. Being a stupid man, I did not heed the warnings. Fortunately, things turned out generally okay. Except for the fact that I then had to call in favor from one of my friends from the train to drive me to yet another station during lunch to buy the 10 ride ticket I missed having the time to pick up in the morning.

I hope the commute goes easier next week.