The greatest defeat in life is to miss riding on a train. One day we will have to quit this life filled with music, laughter, leaves turning golden in the fall, the touch of a loved one’s hand. Never having had the joy of riding on a train falls somewhere in between.
The longing and restlessness that is in the whistle of a faraway train in the middle of the night leaves me the minute I board a train to be transported to another place.
Last week I returned home from a school reunion in Aberdeen, Washington, and yes, I travelled by Amtrak’s train, the Cascade which leaves every evening from Salinas and arrives twenty-five hours (or so) later. I say ‘or so’ for Amtrak trains are noted for not being on time.
Most of us who are frequent train travelers are never in a hurry, being late gives us more time to enjoy ourselves before stepping off into the fast-paced world once again. It’s the journey and the people we meet along the way, gazing out the windows at the landscape and getting to know a little more about this beautiful country we call America that makes train travel so special.
But there is also the seamy-side of this America that we see from our seat on the train which is occurring more and more in our towns and is happening behind fences, along riverbeds and manufacturing buildings on the edge of towns. Places where railroad tracks were laid decades ago and are still in use today now contain ram shackled
dwellings and broken-down people along with unbelievable amounts of garbage…all of which is too numerous to count.
And then just as suddenly as this appears, it disappears, leaving me saddened for the moment, but just as quickly another scene appears, erasing that sadness and filling my eyes with a stately deer grazing alongside a riverbank just as our train begins its climb into the Cascade mountains.
Dusk begins to fall, and I am thankful that I have brought appetizers along with me just in case our train might be late, and I would miss dinner on the train. I decide to ‘venture out’ and go down the narrow stairs to the Club car for a glass of wine to go along with my Bruschetta appetizer. I settle on a crisp Pinot Grigio wine, spread out my paper doily along with my bruschetta, lean back in my comfortable club chair and watch the ‘remains of the day’’ pass by.
“Now, that’s some class little lady”, an elderly gentleman says, “and those are some shoes too” he added. Surprised, I turned to face this fellow who had settled into the seat next to mine. He had a beer in his glass and put out his free hand to mine…”my name’s Ben and I hope I’m not disturbing your dinner hour, but I used to be a cobbler and I noticed your silver-studded shoes. Good workmanship too”, said Ben.
Ben and I spent the next hour sharing my appetizer together while he told me he had been to Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon, visiting his wife’s gravesite, where he one day too, will be buried. Strange how we came across each other, Ben and me, because that is where my Papa is buried as well.
Trains are not for hurrying, that’s not what trains are for. Trains are for meeting people, sharing stories and forgetting one’s troubles.
Before you quit this life, fill that longing and listen to that train whistle in the middle of the night while the train is taking you to that place where you are not in a hurry to get to. All Aboard!
Bruschetta Appetizers…Sweet or Savory…Can be made 2 to 4 hours ahead.
1 loaf of Sumano’s Sourdough French bread sliced ½ inch thick.
¼ cup olive oil with 1-2 minced garlic cloves.
Brush olive oil mixture onto both sides of bread slices. Be generous with the oil as this prevents the bread from becoming soggy.
Bake in 400 deg. oven 20 min. turning once half-way through. Cool.
Slices should be crisp, not soft. Serve all at room temperature.
Savory Spreads…Use any soft cheese such as Rondele, ricotta,
cream cheese, drained cottage cheese, goat cheese or a mixture of mashed eggs and mayonnaise with a dash of Tabasco, and finally hummus. Spread on slices generously in order that your toppings will sink in and not fall off while eating. Remember to keep your toppings small, sliced thin and easy to bite into.
Top with any of the following…cream cheese with smoked salmon, capers and chives; roasted tomato, onion, garlic slices and basil; diced prosciutto and sundried tomatoes with parmesan cheese; shrimp with diced celery, dill and mayo; thinly sliced cucumbers and radishes with mayonnaise; finely chopped sautéed spinach and goat or feta cheese crumbles.
Sweet Toppings…use any of the Savory spreads above and top with thinly sliced peaches, nectarines, cantaloupe or well-drained canned plums. Decorate with sliced almonds.
