Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Train to Nowhere

This morning a lady came into my shop.  She was very frantic.  She thought she might have missed her train.  She was going to Chicago to get a connection to Dallas.  I got on the website and found out her train was delayed for over 4 hours.  That meant she was going to miss her other train.  I told her to come in and make a call to Amtrak.  She was on the phone to Amtrak for over an hour.  Probably longer.  The major problem was she only had $7.00.  That's right.  To go all the way to Texas she had $7.00 and her ticket.  The more she asked questions, the uglier her situation became.  Even if she made it to Chicago it would be tomorrow before she could catch another train.  Union Station is not open 24 hours.  She would have nowhere to stay tonight. 
While she was on the phone, I started doing some research.  This is crazy.  Her ticket was sending her North to Chicago to catch a train that would come right back on the same track.  The train going South does not stop in our little village in the afternoon.  It does stop in a town 20 miles from here.  At this point the lady is crying and shaking and overly stressed.  I took the phone and asked Amtrak if she could get to Pontiac would she have a place on the train.  They said yes.  Next I sent a couple of text messages to see if I could find her a ride.  I called the taxi.  It would be $25 to take her.  I know how my little town works.  I put a note on Facebook asking if someone could give her a ride.  Within minutes her ride was arranged.  I packed her a bag with some water, tea, and peanuts.  Gave her some cash.  Helped her get her suitcases out the door.  I know the person that offered her a ride.  He is very kind.  She is in good hands.
There are a couple of hilarious points to this story.  The train she is catching 20 miles south of here was the train she would of gotten on in Chicago.  She had to go North in order to get South. Instead she went South, to catch the train she was going North to get on!  Amtrak could have offered to stop here and pick her up.  It was weather issues that caused her train to be delayed four hours.  They would not. 
The next point that I continue to chuckle about is, not only have I not had a paying customer today, I gave money away.  I am glad I was able to help her.  I am very glad I was able to help her along her journey.  I will hear from her again.  (Cannot remember her name.)

3 comments:

  1. Thats what we need Alice......a train to nowhere...................what does that ticket cost?

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  2. Old Lady a ticket to nowhere costs whatever we want to pay. I need to start writing about: The Old Lady & Alice's Excellent Adventure!

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  3. You may not be able to remember her name but I'm certain she will never forget you.

    Hockeygram

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