A TRAIN IN THE DISTANCE

BY DAN MILLER
(originally posted November 4, 2004)

I often tell my wife that - just once - before I'm too old, I might hop a freight train and have a little adventure.

A few years ago I read an article about a prominent doctor who - every year - took two weeks off, and hopped a train to somewhere.
His "vacation" was being a railroad bum.
His wife didn't like it..... but she tried to understand.

It probably all has to do with some deep, mysterious 'yearning' in men that science hasn't even begun to unravel. They're still doing research on why men won't ask for directions.

Right now, as I'm typing, I hear a train whistle in the distance.
I hear them every night.

The other day I was listening to Paul Simon's great song, "A Train In the Distance".
The lyrics say:
"Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance",
"Everybody thinks it's true".

And I'm constantly bombarded with other songs about trains:
Folsom Prison Blues..... Waitin' For A Train..... Soul Train..... Take the "A" Train..... Midnight Train to Georgia.... Night Train to Memphis..... Orange Blossom Special..... King of the Road..... Bummin' Around.....
Heaven Bound Train..... Down By the Station..... Hey Porter..... My Baby Thinks He's A Train..... Peace Train.... Last Train to Clarksville..... Rock Island Line..... Me & Bobby McGee..... Wreck of the Old 97.....
People Get Ready...... John Henry...... Chattanooga Choo Choo..... Desperadoes Waiting For a Train.....
Wabash Cannonball..... City of New Orleans..... Mystery Train.... Engine, Engine #9....

Well, you get the point.

There are dozens of websites on the Internet about "train hopping" (almost all strongly urging people not to do it).

There's even a website for the National Hobo Association.

And there are movies.
Have you watched "Sullivan's Travels"? It's about a big time Hollywood director who decides to hop a train, and - in the process - learns great lessons about life.
If you haven't seen it, you should rent it. A real classic.

Oh well..... I have a wonderful wife who let's me talk about my big "train adventure". And she probably knows - with absolute certainty - I won't do it.

In these times of heightened security, it would be difficult and dangerous to hop a train.
I'd likely find myself hopping in the back of a police car before I'd ever leave on a train.

But at night, I'm still one of those who loves the sound of a train in the distance.... and I'm one of those who thinks it's true.......

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