PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

When I checked into the RV Park in Bakersfield, I was given a spot in the new “transient” section. The older part of the park was for long termers. I was the only trailer but it was very safe as it was right next to the other part of the park. I got the trailer unhitched and hooked up to the services. It was such a beautiful day that I even pulled the awning down for the first time. I got my lounge chair set up and was just getting comfortable when THE TRAIN WENT BY REALLY CLOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That wasn’t mentioned in the Woodall’s Guide to Campgrounds. It really didn’t bother me but it did remind me of one of my favourite stories about mom.

Mom and I loved to go to Palm Springs in the late 70’s. We would fly down (her from Vancouver and me from Seattle) and spend 2 weeks at this little motel owned by Kay who had to be at least 80 if the condition of her skin was any indicator. The last trip we took was in 1980 and since I was back from Seattle and she wanted to visit a couple of towns on the way down, we drove her yellow station wagon. I had a horrible cold and was taking cough syrup with codeine so she drove all the way down. The deal was that we were to split all expenses. After our two weeks it was time to return home and I said that I would do most of the driving to even up. The first day we were driving through the desert and talking about whatever. She turned to me at one point and said (and I quote) “You have a mind like a steel trap and a mouth to match”. She immediately realized that all I had to do was pull over to the side of the highway and put her out of the car. And then I started to laugh and we ended up with tears from laughing so hard.

The last full day on the road was kind of tense and it was my turn to pay for the motel but she said that she would pay and I said that it was my turn and she said that she didn’t mind paying and I said that IT WAS MY TURN AND I WOULD PICK THE MOTEL AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE SUBJECT. I found a motel and checked us in. I saw train tracks so I asked the motel clerk what time the last train went by and she said 8pm which was not a big deal. My cold was back, my head was stuffed up and mom and I weren’t talking at dinner. We got back to the motel room and got into bed and sure enough the train went by a precisely 8 pm. What I hadn’t asked was just how close are those train tracks because we sat bolt upright and fully expected to see the train come through the bathroom it was that loud. Well, mom and I looked at each other and we burst out laughing. All was forgiven…. until the next morning. I had not asked what time the FIRST train went by. Yup 6am and we almost suffered twin heart attacks. We laughed about that trip for years and years so trains next to my trailer don’t bother me in the least. They remind me of mom.