Out and About!

Haven't been on a Train in years. Didn't think about it much really, I was just so excited to go on a day trip and see my friend. I was also looking forward to seeing more of the sites here. Getting out and about is something I try and do every day. It's still slow, the tourists haven't arrived with their hustle and bustle, and the streets aren't clogged yet with traffic. It's quiet, easy to get around, and I can site see without interruption. But this trip was out of town a bit. A relatively short train ride (about an hour) to a nearby town to meet up with my friend. A town just outside of Boston. Ah! Boston is my goal, but for now, just the 'meet and greet' was enough.

I actually went from Maine thru New Hampshire and into Massachusetts. It's sure a lot easier to go from state to state over here! Not a big deal for locals, most of them do it all the time. Whether their commuting for work or to visit friends/family, or to go to a game. On this train ride, there was a group that was going to the game in Boston. What game? I have NO idea! Sports is not one of my 'forte's, but they were having a great time on the train ride there. It was just what I needed during the ride. I hadn't realized that the train ride would be a 'trigger', but it was. A small one, but a trigger none the less.

In an 'oh so small' paragraph the trigger story goes like this: The last time I was commuting on a train it was because we were living in a small (OMG so small) quaint little German tourist town. We had decided to move back to the valley where both of us had family and friends. I went first in order to secure work and a place to live. I got a job, was staying with my daughter, and was looking for an apt for us to move into. He stayed in the (omg so small) German tourist town and was to secure packing and keep the apt until such time when I had found an apt. I commuted to him every weekend via Train and Greyhound. I ALSO was paying for my share of the expenses of where I was staying and saving for an apt. HE was working full time, but was unable to save any of his paychecks to pay the rent THERE so I had to keep sending him money. AS WELL as pay for my own transportation there and back, my food, my bus fair to and from work, and apt hunt for something affordable for us until he found work after he moved down. HUGE Red Flag of his lack of responsibility, but hindsight is 20/20 right? Oh I got the "I miss you" emails, and the phone calls where he told me that the apt was so big without me there. That the walls "weren't as white" anymore. The place had taken on a "grey" mode since I had been gone. That he couldn't sleep in the bed without me...blah blah blah. And I feel for it, hook, line, and sinker!  I look back at this now and realize this was not in any stretch of the imagination a "team" effort. He worked at his job, but kept spending his money on beer and pizza and entertaining his little brother and god know what else.........

So.....the Train ride was a bit of a trigger. Not HALF as bad as I thought it was going to be when it came on tho. And I Thank the God's in Heaven for that! Just another example of how I was CONSISTENTLY devalued throughout the relationship. Besides, the group of friends going to the game helped to take my mind off it. And so did the scenery. They were having a fabulous time and I kept thinking to myself, man, if they were in L.A. someone would have told them to shut the hell up by now! LOL. There was even a guy sleeping in the seats across from me who couldn't have cared less about them having a good time. Didn't bother him at all, he just slept away. What a refreshing way of life. And it's starting to rub off on me as well. I'm feeling more and more every day my body just relaxing here. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect place to go to 're-group' and start my travels. Besides, I found this link on the internet yesterday and it really is true. Maine IS one of the nicest places!

Maine: The most Peaceful US State

So I'm on the train and soaking up all the sites I can. One of the first things I notice is on this train ride I don't see the little "tents" along the route I used to see. The weather doesn't really permit too many vagabonds out like that, but it was till nice to not have to see all those people just trying to survive. Or have to look at so much trash and graffiti. So apart from the 10 minutes of 'trigger' the train ride was glorious!


I get to my destination, depart from the train and the first thing I notice is that there's a LOT of construction work going on just across from the platform to the left. And we all know what it means when there's construction work right? Construction Workers! Oh baby! Such a site for these eyes.....yummy.

 *Side note, while I'm typing this the Ice Cream truck just came by.....ok, call me crazy, but it's 50 degrees out with a wind chill factor (being so close to the beach it's always breezy) that makes it feel more like 30 to this California native! Guess the tourist season is getting close!

So I'm looking around trying to figure out where the heck my friend parked cause I didn't see anywhere anyone could really have parked for the train. Until the train pulled away. The parking lot was on the OTHER side of the train. (oh duh!) I walk across the little "bridge" they have so you can cross the tracks, help a lady with her suitcase and there was my friend! WOO HOO! Now this ought to give you a chuckle. I go running (yes, RUNNING....like you see in the movies) over. Stop laughing! (Well, ok, go ahead and chuckle, I do when I think of it now LOL)

HUGE hugs ensued, as well as the "OMG your real" and all that jazz. See, you have to understand that after going thru one of these 'experiences' (for lack of a better term) you become really close on the internet. The stories are all so similar it's like these sorts of 'people' (again, for lack of a better term) have all read the same handbook on how to manipulate. And you can't help but form bonds with some of the survivors you meet online. When we get to meet any of them in the FLESH is amazing. This is the second time I've been able to do this. And I don't plan on it stopping any time soon. There are so many more I need and want to meet. But, that just gives me more to write about right? :)

While we chatted in the parkinglot for a bit, I was loaded down with a YUMMY warm coat, more PJ's than I can wear (insert smiley face here) a purse, sweaters (yay SWEATERS!) a pair of boots for the rain/mud, an umbrella and all SORTS of things. There was even an extra suitcase for me to bring all this stuff back in. Not a stone was left unturned.....I was blown away at the thoughtfulness and utter kindness being given to me. Kind of hard still to accept such kindness from others. I'm not saying that nobody has ever been kind to me. I have lots of people who have been kind and compassionate. Especially after my ex trying to utterly destroy me. Friends, Family, and even co-workers have come out of the woodwork and embraced me with love and compassion. I love them all more than I can say. But it still takes some getting used to......

The afternoon was wonderful. I could not have imagined it any better. We went to a little place known as Ninety Nine. A nice restaurant with a good atmosphere, and great food. And after that stopped at Dunkin Doughnuts (a little piece of home for me)

While the food was great, the company was better. We shared stories, both of us at one point or another dropping our jaws. Laughing, talking, comparing notes about our ex's, and just having a wonderful afternoon. Time was limited, because my train back was leaving in 4 hours or I wouldn't have made it home until sometime in the early a.m. We sucked up as much of each other as we could. And made plans for next time. Future BBQ's, places to visit, and the next trip to be in Boston.


I can't wait.......