Adventures in Gastronomy

Well, my vacation is now 28 hours old and I already feel relaxed. The train yesterday wasn’t bad at all. Unlike my previous Amtrak rides, this one was practically empty so I had an entire row to myself the entire trip (maybe it’s because I took the poor person’s Metroliner instead of the Acela high speed train like I normally do)? Either way, it was only an hour longer, it was half the cost, and it was much more spacious (since it was practically empty).

I’m concerned, however, that absolutely nothing is done for security on the train…especially after the Madrid train bombings and the news broadcasts of threats in the U.S. on rail lines. They didn’t check baggage, they didn’t put any people through metal detectors and they didn’t even ask for ID. That shocks the hell out of me since these trains go through the biggest cities along the eastern seaboard (Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York, Boston). In fact, when full these trains carry many more people than an airplane can carry…and these trains enter most cities underground in long tunnels. I tried not to focus on that while heading under the river to Manhattan…and when a man exited the train at Penn Station and left his luggage 3 rows ahead of me (he came back 10 minutes later).

Anyway, one more train comment and then I’ll move on. As the train approached New York City I was reminded of how invigorating it is to see the Manhattan skyline. I can’t explain it but there’s just this energy you can feel…an increasing excitement the closer you get to the city. Unfortunately, as this was my first train ride to NYC in the past 3 years, I also noticed the gaping hole in the skyline where the World Trade Center once stood. And though I didn’t cry, it did cause me to have that pain in my throat that I associate with tears. It sucked. But by the time the train stopped in Penn Station I was ready to jump off the train and stay there for the week (Matt would have killed me).

And speaking of Matt, I’m beginning to see why this trip was a good idea. For all the sadness, frustration and worry over the past year, this trip (even after only one day) has made me realize how much I miss him, care for him, and can’t imagine not having him in my life. He called me last night to check up on me and recorded Big Brother 5 for me (sweet!). He even put Dusty on the phone…and she apparently started freaking out upon hearing my voice and began licking the receiver as if it was me. I feel so loved by both of them!

OK- and now for the trip. My friend, Melody picked me up at the train station and then we returned to her place and grilled dinner on the barbecue (chicken breasts and chick and sun-dried tomato sauage – MMMMMM!). One of the great things about her is that even though we see each other so infrequently, when we get together it’s like only a few days had gone by. The last time I saw her was a year ago when she visited me in Salem for just an hour or two while driving through town. Before that, it was over 3 years since I visited her in New Jersey.

Yet the familiarity and comfort reappared within seconds of seeing each other again. In fact, we ended up talking late into the night and again after getting up this morning so we never even made it out of the house today until 1PM. That killed our plans to exlore the Jersey coastline, but it’s not a problem for me because the company was great. We ended up driving around central New Jersey and up Watchung Mountain (which is really a hill). But it was lots of fun.

I’m not sure what’s planned for the rest of the day, but tomorrow morning I’m catching the train to Philadelphia. The adventure begins…

July 7th, 2004
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl

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