Don't Get off the Train

While my parents were here a couple weeks ago, I learned an important life lesson: When you're on the right train, don't get off. My mom flew into the Burbank airport on a Thursday, while my dad took the train up from San Diego (where he'd been working for a few weeks) on Friday. We decided to give Gavin his first taste of public transportation, taking the Gold Line down to Union Station to meet my dad. So Gavin (in his stroller), Jesse, my mom and I loaded on to the train at the Sierra Madre stop. We arrived, entered the train (which had been sitting at the stop for some time), and sat down. Unfortunately, the section we were seated in was facing backwards, and my mom gets quite motion sick. Looking down the train car, we could see that seats further on were facing forward, but the aisle was blocked by someone else with a large stroller. At the next stop, we determined to move down the car and sit where my mom would be more comfortable. I suggested that Jesse, who was pushing the stroller, exit at the door near us and reenter the traincar further along. Jess and Gavin moved outside and my mom and I began walking down the traincar's aisle. At that moment, a mechanical voice said "The Doors Are Closing" - and they did. With Jesse and Gavin outside. And then the train pulled away. With Jesse and Gavin outside! I'm sure my face was quite a picture. I called Jesse on his cell phone and we just burst out laughing. Mom and I exited the train at the next stop and waited for the next train to bring my husband and son along. The ten minutes we sat waiting at the Lake Avenue stop, on a little concrete island in the middle of the 210 freeway brought home the life lesson: when you're on the right train, don't get off. It's a bit like Red Riding Hood - don't be distracted from the path, no matter how pretty the flowers or, in this case, how tempting the seats appear. Stick to what you have. No matter what!