| Detour for my Detour, or Singin' the Freight Train Blues |
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Coming home from work usually takes 20 minutes, 25 if I hit all the red lights. Today the train crossing arms came down across one of the busiest streets in our city. Why they haven't built a bridge or tunnel so the train bypasses such a busy throughway boggles my mind. Anyway, that infernal train inched it's way across the tracks, then stopped, completely blocking all four lanes of the highway. After 10 minutes, during which time the train did not move an inch, I was able to make my way to a spot where I could turn around and take an alternate, albeit longer, route home. I was able to get within 1/2 mile of my house. I could even see the street where I turn into our development! But, alas, it was not to be. The spot where another set of train tracks crosses this portion of Bakersfield is being renovated. Road closed. Now I had to make another detour BACK to the highway I had left 15 minutes before. This time, however, I entered the highway on the other side of that dadgum train track. What should have taken 20 minutes took 45.
As I was about to pound my head into my steering wheel in frustration, the song "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" came on the radio. Which reminded me how many blues songs include the subject of trains and now I know why. Check these titles out:
Train Whistle Blues
Boxcar Blues
Seminole Coal Train Blues
C&NW Railroad Blues
...and my favorite (although maybe not a blues song, technically) Locomotive Breath
I thank God for giving me a reason to laugh today! |
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Folsom Prison Blues
...I am glad you can laugh at your frustration...my take away from this is that some times no matter how hard we try, we can't do better than what we are doing right now...have to think that through some more, but that is what hit me hardest... |
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| Aha!!! I was already late picking up your daughter this morning and the detour did not help!!! Glad you could laugh at it!! |
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Voice, I knew there was a lesson to be learned in this exprience. Thanks for pointing it out to me! Thanks, also, for reminding me of that really cool song. I love Johnny Cash! "Walk the Line" made me a fan and is now one of my favorite movies of all time!
I hear the train a comin'
It's rollin' round the bend
And I ain't seen the sunshine
Since I don't know when
Now it's stuck in my head!
Kristine: Sure, blame your tardiness on the train....;-P Did she tell you she was still in bed when you were pulling into the driveway? Teenagers! |
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Deb |
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June 27, 2007 at 1:32pm |
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| I am forever getting stopped by a train. I keep a book with me at all times so I can just read. Sometimes there is no way to avoid the annoying interruptions of our day! |
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| Ahhh, no trains in our town, yea!!! But it's funny how that all worked out with the song!! And now I'M humming Folsom Prison Blues.. |
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| You're welcome, Kadesha! ;-P |
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Sarah |
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June 28, 2007 at 10:45am |
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Those trains in town are crazy!! Sometimes they sit forever..not moving. I think the conductors just take a coffee break to mess with us while they block the roadway. I think I have the one near us timed, though. It used to stop me every single Wednesday night after Awana because it blocks the road for about 20 minutes every night at about 8 pm.
The book idea is a good one...maybe I'll start keeping a book in the car! |
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