Instead of dwelling on the setbacks in 2012 (Don't cry over spilled milk), I count all the blessings (Always look on the bright side) we have experienced including two wonderful road trips - Southward adventure in July and Kentucky Bourbon Trail in September. These photos were taken from the Great Smokey Mountain train ride.
We were riding along, then the train slowed down. It came to a complete stop. The conductor announced that there were tree branches on the tracks. Good thing we had the iPad with internet connection. After watching the man working on clearing the tracks, we sat back in our comfortable caboose. I brought along two books (the real ones that I could hear the rustling sound of the paper while the pages are being turned). I read while Ralphie checked the latest news on the iPad.
The caboose (equiped with its own bathroom) was supposed to be for group rental with snacks and drinks for up to 12 passengers. Since it was only himself and I, the train company provided two box lunches complete with chips and cookies. We also got a basket of snacks, a cooler filled up with ice, water and soda. We were given a walkie-talkie in case we needed to communicate with the conductor. It was a great experience and we highly recommend it.
I want to believe that the setbacks I have encountered 18+ months ago that had led me down this "bumpy" road and unexpected difficult turns, are just like the tree branches on the train tracks. It is up to me to get the tools I need (like getting a certificate of legal studies), cut the branches into managable pieces (keeping a strong faith, a spirit of giving back with volunteer activities), move the branches off the tracks (be strong and not become discouraged) and get the train moving (getting back into the workforce) again.
The tracks were cleared, the train started to move, and all was well again. Here is to 2013 and to the coming years, no more tree branches falling on our train tracks!
Our wedding anniversary is in mid-June, so we usually have a low-key celebration with dinner at a nice restaurant (where the waiter keeps watch and immediately picks up the wrapper as soon as we finished eating the crackers, then proceed to clean the crumb off the table with a tiny comb he keeps in the front pocket of his vest). The first time we were at this restaurant, I looked around the dining room to see all the paintings and also checking if there were any "movers and shakers of St. Louis", each time I conducted my "surveillance", the waiter kept coming over asking what I needed. So I learned not to look around nor making any eye contact with the servers. My husband always sends me flowers (well, except one year but we won't talk about that) for the special occasion. We would give each other little gifts and then do something special when we go on our annual July 4th road trip. This year, my husband rented a caboose (like the one in the photo below) for a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Train Ride. We had the whole caboose with lunch, drinks and snacks just for the two of us, instead of being in the other cab with the masses - haa haa!
The modern Bryson City is a premier spot for many outdoor activities. The Nantahala River offers lot of fun to those wanting to raft, kayak, hike (along the Appalachian Trail to Wesser Bald - 2.8 miles or a little harder and longer 12-mile to Cheoah Bald), mountain bike (you could try riding out-and-back the hilly 18.5 mile of paved road to the Road to Nowhere) or trout fishing. It might be one of those fish stories but we were told that a lucky person caught a 30-inch brown trout and a 24-inch rainbow trout and all he did was dropping his fishing rod in the river!
From the comfort of our caboose, we enjoyed the view through the Nantahala Gorge (the Cherokee called it "Land of the Midday Sun"), and watched the rafters crowded on the river. We stopped at a campground for a break and only when we dipped out feet in the river that we realized that the water was so cold, probably in the lower 50s. I wondered how the kids could be playing in the river and not turning blue!
The tracks were cleared, the train started to move, and all was well again. Here is to 2013 and to the coming years, no more tree branches falling on our train tracks!
