I haven't had much of Christmas on my mind lately.  But I'm home today, thinking that I need to get the tree up and the ornaments on.  I was thinking of Christmases long ago, and remembering the Lionel train that my dad would occasionally have riding along the tracks under the tree.  I think his had smoke that went up...it was the coolest thing that I have ever seen.  I'd lay on the floor under the tree with all its lights, and just watch as that train went round and round, waiting to see the light on the engine and the smoke coming off the stack.

There is nothing more relaxing than being the conductor of your own train.  One summer back in the days of my youth, my brother and I took half of an old ping pong table out in the garage and built our own railroad upon it.  We had a smaller gauge train than the big Lionel, but I remember making a paper mache mountain for the train to go through as we placed the tracks around the table.  We would walk up to the little hobby shop that was located in a small mall across the street from the back of the house and buy trees and bushes and such to place all around the board.  That was a good summer.  I can't remember what happened to our railroad as the winter came and the cars had to be parked in the garage.

I've always enjoyed train rides, getting lost in the view out the window as farm fields and small towns passed by.  Nothing was more relaxing than taking the train from college to home, learning the names of the towns that we stopped in on the way up the line.  The only way I really enjoy going into the city these days is by train, although it's a lot more crowded than the Amtrak was going home from school.  I'd love to see this country by train one day.

Hmm...I've got Arlo Guthrie's song The City of New Orleans going through my head now.  Greatest train song ever.

I wish my son had a Lionel train.  That would be motivation enough to get the tree up and decorated.  I could be the conductor again, laying on the floor and watching the train, and letting my imagination take me to places I have never been.

Today was my birthday.  For the first time in a very long time I actually felt like celebrating my life.  I took the day off of work and went out exploring.  I went out in nature, where I always find my peace and restore my soul. 

I turned fifty-two today.  There have been times when I have felt like I have traveled way too many roads, feeling like there were way too many miles on this body and soul of mine. 

There have been times in my life when I have felt like nothing but junk,

but I have learned that God doesn't make junk.  Everything he makes is a work of art.

When times got rough and the waters were raging around me,

I longed for the peace and calm that once was there.

I'm grateful for friends who stood with me,

bringing light to my darkness and getting me back on the right path.

There have been times when it seemed like such a hard climb to get to where I wanted to be,

and taking that first step was often the hardest.

And while I have burned a few bridges in the past,

the road ahead seems a lot smoother.

Yes, there were times when I felt like I was in dry dock,

but life seems to be flowing like a river these days.

I am a glorious creation,

complex on the inside,

but I'm standing tall,

more alive than I have ever been.

Yes, into each life a little rain must fall,

but for me, life is just ducky right now! 

I am blessed by all my Xanga friends.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.