Driving that train…
No. Not the Casey Jones’ song as I wasn’t driving any train and LORD truly knows I don’t do cocaine!!
But…
I was on a train, an Amtrak train.
Rolling, rolling, rolling up to Massachusetts to Arlington.
To be exact en route to visit my niece, my adopted niece who I consider family as my mom considered her to be.
It’s all good…
It has been a while and let’s be transparent and say years since I had a vacation. My vacay buddy, mom (who will forever be 91 years) could no longer travel and I decided to stay close to home near her. Mind you, she didn’t agree with my decision but felt comforted knowing I was just upstairs.
But onto traveling for the first time in so long.
As I mentioned before, I was on an Amtrak train, not driving but here’s a look at what a driver might have seen:
For the longest time I planned to visit my niece and mom’s upcoming birthday, oh better yet, first birthday without her here on earth, seemed appropriate enough, to get on that train.
And I did…
Rolling, rolling, rolling.
Amtrak rocked and cradled my bod as green trees and concrete buildings passed by the window. 
Leaving NYC…
so exciting, when the mind is in the present.
Returning NYC…
not exciting when the mind is in the present.
Ease of transportation had avoided my niece for a while, regulating her to trains and buses. Luckily, she inherited her mom’s used Toyota Yaris!
So, she drove…
and refused to let me drive through turn arounds, round abouts’ or whatever you wanna call them.
All good because…
on Mom’s birthday we drove.
We drove to Gloucester and walked along the cold sandy grey beach with dark clouds floating over our heads. The cold sand massaged my feet and grounded my soul.
So needed…
with grieving and missing you.
The Fisherman’s Memorial, the picture I took of the names of the fisherman lost at sea and portrayed in the movie; ‘The Perfect Storm’ stirred in mi alma.
The families of those men and myself share the final ending of knowing a loved one will not be returning.
At Lexington, I learned more about the Revolutionary War than I cared to absorb but…
I was grateful to have the history told to us by a volunteer dressed in clothing of the time. 
Harvard, yes, we went there.
Although the trip wasn’t to visit the photography archives of the United Fruit Company, a research project I was so into while aiming for my Masters, being on campus was a reminder of what is still attainable, still researchable.
We stopped at a GAP where I bought ‘boyfriend Chino pants’ and argued with my niece because…well that’s what we do and we do it well.
Vegan Galaxy?!!!!
Best Vegan joint I’ve eaten at. The place makes their own vegan burger which just may surpass Impossible Burger.
Along our driving we ventured to the quarry at Halibut Point. At that point I was tired and wanted to get the cake mom always had at our birthdays.
We drove to Woodman’s and ordered two slices of Strawberry Shortcake which was mom’s favourite cake to have on our birthdays.
Once we arrived at my niece’s apartment we broke out the cake and I must say it was the best Strawberry Shortcake I ever, ever, ever, ever…
had.
Thank you, mom for I feel you had a hand in this day, your birthday and making sure I enjoyed it to the fullest with my niece, who you accepted as family.
Happy Birthday Mom, my mom!