I have been asked a lot how Dylan liked the bus ride, and train ride to Iowa so I thought I would tell you the story...
Recently moved from Alaska to Colorado the first thing on our list was to go to Iowa to see our family. Everything fell into place when we found out our car was going to get shipped from Alaska to Texas and Mike had to fly to Texas pick up the car, and drive back. I remember a friend saying that there was an Amtrak that went from Denver into our hometown. The prices were great, and I thought it would be a fun experience. I would take the boys, Mike would fly to Texas, and drive to where we were dropped off at and we would be home for Thanksgiving. Or so I THOUGHT it was going to be a fun experience.
We drove to Denver 5am to drop Mike off. Off to Texas he went. Which left me, 2 kids and NO idea what I was doing. I have never been on a bus or an Amtrak and to add I am a small town girl. We took a cab, who brought us to the bus station. Dylan started his friendly chat and said "My name is Dylan, and I am going on a bus, then on a train. Have you been on a train?" The cab driver wasn't really into small talk so he ignored Dylan. No tip for him. ha ha. We got dropped off at the bus station (which was going to bring us to Denver where the Amtrak was) My hands were full.
We walked in and I could tell right off hand it wasn't a high class bus station.We walked in, there were guys who stood there staring. They were wore bagging pants, do rags, and they had no luggage.They kept staring. Dylan says " Hi, I'm going to Iowa are you riding on the bus." I quickly grabbed his toys and said hey buddy lets play. I distracted him. Not for long though.A couple guys came in very loudly and one was bleeding. Dylan's mouth dropped open and said "What HAPPENED!?" The guy looked at Dylan and went back to telling a group of guys he was stabbed and the guy is going to pay for it. The group of guys ran out the door. I was thinking WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO???
Dylan started asking alot of questions and again I distracted him and bought him a drink. Later on a guy walks in with sleeping bag, canteen, long hair, dirty clothes. So naturally I came to the conclusion he was homeless. Again something Dylan was not familiar with so he stared at this guy for a while then says "I'm going to Iowa to see my family where are you going?" He replies " My family hates me. I'm not going anywhere." Ohhhhh boy. Dylan's eyes became big, his mouth dropped and he looked at me. Later on that guy asked another guy for a ciggerette he started digging in his boots, pulls out 15 cents and says " I will buy one from you I have 15 cents."
Not to long after Dylan says "Mom can I buy a candy?" I told him no we were going to eat on the train and I don't have much money. He replies (annnnd I should of known.) "but mom remember we went to the bank and you got 100 dollars... that's 5 20 dollars. The hair on my neck instantly stood as I was waiting to get jumped. I grabbed the kids, went in the bathroom, switched what was in my purse in Masons diaper bag and visa versa Brilliant I thought.
Dylan continued to talk to anyone and everyone that walked in the bus station doors I leaned down and said "Dylan whats a toy you reallllllly want? If you don't talk to a stranger I will buy you that toy." His eyes lit up, I had a sigh of relief thinking...this may work. WRONG. Dylan starts talking again and says "you like my race car? You can keep it." Just then the bus arrived and It was time to board. THANK GOD!
We loaded the bus, there wasn't 2 seats side by side available. I asked a few people if they double up with someone so my 5 year old could sit with me. No one would. OMG now what? So I found seats where one was open right behind the other. Dylan says to this lady I am so excited to ride the bus. I'm going to Iowa where are you going? This lady replies "My husband told me to get the f*** out of the f***** house so I told him to go to h*** and now I'm on the bus and he doesnt know where the f*** I'm at. Once again Dylan looks at me with his eyes great big and mouth open. Ohhh boy this is going to be a long hour I thought. Dylan eventually fell asleep. I had never been so happy for him to sleep. We arrive in Denver, we passed the bus station and everyone on the bus started raising their voices "Excuse me bus driver where the h*** are you taking us." He ignored everyone, pulled up at the Amtrak, walked back to help me. People started to complain "ohhhh lil Princess and her babies are going to take the Amtrak, we are going to miss our connecting bus because this princess has got money." ahhhhhhhhh I grabbed Dylan's arm and yanked him off the bus, people continued to talk.
As we were in the Amtrak station I was scared out of my mind because the train ride was going to be a 13 hour ride and after experiencing an hour on a bus I wasn't hopeful to say the least. Dylan was SOOO excited, he picked out where he wanted us to sit. There was no one for Dylan to talk to because the train was huge and not alot of people so I was beginning to feel a little more relaxed. I decided to take the kids to walk around the train.We walked up the stairs, down the stairs, from car to car, into the lobby, and into the dining area it was pretty amazing. Dylan picked out what he wanted to eat and stood in line to pay. A lady grabbed a drink and budged in front of Dylan. Was he going to say something OH OF COURSE.
"Excuse me, Y did you just budge?" he said. She said she was sorry and told Dylan to go ahead. We took our food back to our seats (6 dollar hot dogs that is) we ate, looked out the window.
Wasn't long all 3 of us fell asleep. We woke up and arrived in Creston Iowa. OMG I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO MAKE IT! I was one happy girl. We unload and there is my grandparents, and husband to pick us up. whew! Did I mention my phone died and I forgot the charger at the bus station? WHAT A TRIP! Dylan informed me he loved the train and wants to do it again.
hmmm we will see about that. :p
