The Unexpected Joy of Missing My Train (And What I Learned Instead)



The Day My Train Left Without Me

We’ve all been there. That panicked scramble down the platform, backpack bouncing, heart pounding like a drum solo. Except, in my case, the only solo happening was the train conductor whistling “So long, sucker!” as the doors hissed shut, leaving me with a face full of exhaust fumes and a rapidly evaporating itinerary.

There I stood, a monument to poor planning and excessive reliance on the “snooze” button. My meticulously planned trip to visit my friend in Chicago was officially…derailed.

unexpected happened. I started to laugh.

Adventures in Alternative Transportation (and Awkward Encounters)

See, missing the train forced me to improvise. Instead of a scenic train ride, I found myself on a Greyhound bus with questionable air conditioning and a soundtrack provided by a snoring gentleman three rows back. Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly the luxurious journey I had envisioned.