Headed East - and more "firsts".

Headed East!  And another first…

Dinner on the Amtrak train that first night was a bit disappointing –  due to our late departure and the fact I was in the second sleeper, my reservation was much later than I like it, namely 8:30.  (Who wants dinner at 8:30?)  And, my table companions were not at all talkative.  But breakfast the next morning was an entirely different story.  The people I sat with recognized me from the previous evening, and he and his wife arranged to sit with me.

We chatted a bit about issues facing our country today.  It turns out that they were enroute to a meeting in Washington DC on the topic of Global Warming.   They used the correct forms of address for me, as did the dining car staff.  It’s more than a bit of a thrill to hear “and a burger medium well, for the lady” as they place it in front of you at the table.  (And then you realize that you’re the lady they’re talking about!   Nice....)  

Meals the second day were good, and much more timely.  Table companions were also good, and talkative.  Discussions were started by the woman, and were directed toward me.  It took several minutes for us girls to get the gentlemen at the table involved.  

They used the correct forms of address for me, and it was a pleasant evening meal - amongst scattered storms, with rain shafts and virga (rain falling from a cloud but not reaching the ground) all around us.  We also saw lightning in some of the storms.  (This area must be a fertile brewing ground – every time I'm on this train, storms are in the area!)  And the folks at my table actually still lived in Long Beach, within a mile of the Queen Mary.  Small world.

When I got back to my compartment,  I changed into my purple long house dress/nightgown.  Since it was getting warm in the car, I opened my room door and curtain as soon as I was decent.  And this precisely coincided with the arrival of the Global Warming folks, who were walking down the aisle. I was still wearing my makeup and jewelry with my house dress as I turned to head to the toilet down the hall, when I heard the man say (in the presence of his wife), “Oh my, you look very nice tonight, Mandy.”   Wow, compliments on my house dress and "evening attire" - another first!

The last morning on the train to Chicago found me up for an early breakfast, dressed in denim capris, black polo, pantyhose, flats and light makeup/jewelry – except no lipstick or earrings.  The dining car staff seated me with two men, who initially didn’t talk much to me.  But they warmed up quickly, once the female companion of one of the men sat down across the table from me.  I was introduced as “she” to the lady, who then began to chat with me (and then the guys got talkative once she did.)  After a rough start, it all seemed quite natural…and at the end of breakfast we really didn’t want to stop chatting, but had to.

When those of us with a 1 PM reservation in the diner went in for lunch, I was the leading lady in a string of four.  The server made it a point to have “all four of you ladies please sit right here.”  Having lunch with the girls at the "hen table" was such a fun experience, and the girls all treated me as one of them.  A fine way to end that train ride!

While waiting in Chicago for the train to DC, I sat with the folks from lunch, who continued to address me as “she” to the others she spoke with from their group.  I was quite flattered…

When I boarded the train back to DC from Chicago (the one which we frequently ride), the en-femme part of this excursion was "a thing of the past."   I still looked sort of girly, but nothing out of the ordinary.  And, at breakfast, I was addressed as “Sir” – despite the capris and flats.  

However, one more experience goes into the record books...as we approached DC, the train crew announced that there was a shortage of Red Caps to help with luggage today, and for anyone who can handle the walk to please do so, to save the help for disabled folks and women.  So I walked into the station with my bags, to the Club Acela waiting room.  There, the clerk said "though they're short on Red Caps, women and the disabled can get them if needed," and "would you like one for your train, Ma'am?"  Of course I would...and it surprised me that she accepted me as a woman, due to my less-than-fully femme presentation.   But I'm certainly not complaining...and I did get a Red Cap.  Eventually.  Unfortunately the first one never showed, but just in the nick of time, the second one did.  And he got a very nice tip.   A good way to end a fabulous vacation!

Hopefully another trip like this will be forthcoming in the not-so-distant future!  Though right now, it's not in the works.  Meanwhile, I’ll end this series with a another spectacular sunset picture from on board the train!

Thanks for reading my blog!

Mandy