"Calling Passenger #26C7D8"

Dedicated to Aunt Di, Uncle Mark, Matt, Carr, Fielder, Mishi, and Sadie for giving Kate a memorable summer break.



After much deliberation and first a no, then yes, then no again, I was finally persuaded by my more worldly sister to let her put Kate alone on the Amtrak for a train trip from Durham to Charlotte. And since Diane didn't want to bring Kate home, and I didn't want to go get her, we were quickly running out of other available options...unless of course Diane was interested in adopting.

I was told when I called to purchase the ticket that my daughter would be interviewed, and the station supervisor would determine if Kate would be allowed to travel alone. I hesitated at this revelation, for Kate has been known to on occasion stretch the truth, tell tall tales, etc. I thought back over the many, many stories born in that limitless imagination of Kate's that she has told me and others over the years. What questions would the supervisor ask, I wondered. More importantly, what responses would Kate give? I would learn that her interview consisted of one question......"Do you follow instructions well?" Kate answered yes, yet another of her tall tales, to be sure.

At 11:45 am.....Kate was to board the Piedmont 75 in Durham at 12:10 pm .... I received my first in the very predictable series of phone calls. Kate, in a hushed voice..."Mommy, I'm in the custody of a weird woman." Well, I thought, that should be easy. My daughter is in the custody of a 'weird woman' every day of her life.

Kate proceeded to share that she had an ID bracelet with numbers and must constantly report her whereabouts (restroom, snack bar, etc.) to the....ummmm.....'weird woman.' I'm liking this person already...I cannot get Kate to constantly report her whereabouts to me when she is at home. You go, Weird Woman!

Kate's next comment was that she wouldn't be surprised if they made her change into a uni with her numbers across the front.....surely a phobia birthed from three years of middle school required uniforms. But alas, to the great relief of my suddenly fashionista child, that request never came.

The next call was classic Kate. "Mommy, the only things they have in the snack bar are cookies and crackers, and I waited to eat lunch until I was on the train." Well, Kate My Darling, did you expect prime rib? Undoubtedly, when Aunt Di mentioned Amtrak, Kate heard Orient Express.

Next call, also predictable..."Mommy, why can't I ride in first class?" Does Amtrak have first class? No matter, coach is fine on a plane....coach will do on the train.

Periodically during her trip, Kate says a booming voice over the intercom announces "Kate Pettit, report your whereabouts," at which time Kate as instructed presses a button from whatever location she currently occupies. I am telling you, Dee Readers, I think there is something to this system.

Kate also called to report that she had never seen so many pigs, cows, and corn fields as she did on her rail adventure through rural North Carolina. Surprising with her roots in Pageland and Lancaster, but I guess I have a city girl on my hands. I had to wonder if that was really corn, to which Kate would respond, "I know it is corn. I saw the scarecrow." That's my girl!

Flash forward two hours in real time. I have, I might say, in most uneventful fashion, made it to the Tryon Street Amtrak station to meet Piedmont 75 bearing its very special and, as previously noted, hungry passenger Kate. Those who know this realtor and that she gets lost going around the block can appreciate the magnitude of that accomplishment. And, other than seeing unbelievably few people wearing pants on their waists.....sorry, I shouldn't judge.....I am very comfortable here. Granted, it is not Grand Central Station, but I find myself wondering why more people don't travel by train. Except for the station location a little too close to Charlotte's infamous intersection of Trade and Tryon, this really is pretty great.

Admittedly, before today, I had pictured Charlotte's Amtrak Hub to be exactly like Chicago's stunning Union Station just as I remember it from one of my favorite movies The Untouchables , so I am a little disappointed in the decided lack of architecture, missing sweeping staircases, or especially the notably absent Kevin Costner and Andy Garcia who should certainly be here to protect me. But, it is fine.

And making it even better, just then an announcement. "Piedmont 75 is approaching the station." And with it, my suddenly so very grown up daughter.....Passenger #26C7D8.