In Which We Meet Big Blue

Somewhere in the fields of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, you would have seen a frazzled family of four running alongside an unmoving train about to leave the station. Just like in a movie. Huffing and puffing, they swooped onto their coach with just 1 minute to spare.

Fortunately the engine just smiled:




Yep, we finally made it to Day out with Thomas. I had wanted to do this last year and never got around to ordering tickets. This year we ordered tickets for July and had to cancel our trip because Allie got sick. And this time we almost missed the train. But it all worked out in the end, much to the kids' delight. Their only complaints were that the other trains weren't there ("But where is Percy? And Spencer? And Toby?" Sean asked, more than once) and that Thomas didn't say anything in response to their hearty "Hi, Thomas!" and "Goodbye, Thomas!" ("Why Thomas isn't talking?" Allie wanted to know). I can just imagine that it's nothing short of magical to see one of your favorite characters come to life, mute or not.

Here's the math: An hour and a half car ride each way for a 20-minute train ride. Plus obligatory time mucking about in the mud to mingle with the masses in the toy tent. Leaving me to conclude that this racket must rake in a fortune -- there were easily 80 bazillion people there.

Racket or not, I think it was well worth it.