I decided to write something a little different this time....Enjoy
About 2 years ago, I was planning a business trip to Richmond, VA. and was trying to decide what mode of transportation to get me there. I was in Charleston, SC at the time and of course had several options. (Incidentally, Charleston is absolutely beautiful ~ I will talk about that in another post) Anyway, the airfare was not unreasonable, but was cumbersome given that neither airport was very big and had a layover in either Charlotte or Atlanta (which was going to take me about 5 hours or so). The next option was to drive, but the time and the distance behind the wheel by myself was not something I particularly looked forward to and it is never a one way excursion. And then there was the train....the Silver Service / Palmetto line. Charleston was a stop on the Amtrak circuit through to the eastern seaboard and it had been about 40 years since I had taken the train. Needless to say, the thought of taking a leisurely train ride through a part of the low country and countryside of South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia was very alluring. I chose the last option and wow, what an adventure!
It was one of the coolest things I have done in a long time. It was kind of like traveling back in time. The sound of the train as it pulled up to the station, the "ALL ABOARD" call from the manager and the Porter taking your ticket was like being in a movie. The ride through parts of the country that only get seen as a blink of an eye or sadly never get seen anymore unless your lost somewhere was humbling and yet inspiring. The old delapidated train depots in the small towns that were of a bygone era was sad, but the experience was priceless. The click and clack of the joint bars as the train passed each, the crossings, the whistle stops, the crowds of curious small kids that waved as the train passed; I was transported (literally) back to a time of glory and the eros of it all was something that we all should experience. A heady experience I will soon not forget.
In this modern era where speed seems to be the under carriage of our society. Where we are required to do more at a faster pace. Where small towns and countryside are overlooked for the faster pace of the bigger metropolitan areas, a train is almost counterintuitive. My trip took 8 hours. I got to relax, speak to my neighbor, move around the cars at a leisurely pace, read a book, write a poem and take a nap. I was forced to slow down a bit, to take in a part of life that is too often forgotten. We live in a beautiful country, inhabitated by intersting and wonderful people and taking some time is an obligation we should all take advantage. We owe it to ourselves. So next time you are planning a trip, take the train.
To your success
Until next time my friends,
LEADING EDGE TITLE SOLUTIONS
Matching experience with technology to give
you the edge to be a mortgage industry leader
Bo Hussung
Vice President of Sales
phone ~ 615-438-7300 fax ~ 678-261-1594
email me ~ bhussung@cogentca.com
web ~ www.cogentca.com
PS. Special thanks to Richard Weisser for the inspiration!
Comments(5)