Tuesday we awaken early enough to shower and get some breakfast.

I’m happy they have oatmeal I can eat. I enjoy this with butter, brown sugar and walnuts. I also have a few scrambled eggs and some hot coffee. The coffee is key to my day!

We head back upstairs, strip our beds of linens and place them in the appropriate bins. I’m cracking jokes, to myself this time, because it’s funny to me and I love to laugh.

Back downstairs to clock in and get on the bus for the ride to the train, I attempt to line my lips and put on a light lipstick. Which always makes me feel more alive.

When we arrive at the train, I learn my car is a dead car. (Remember that means no passengers.) As it’s early in the season, there is only one live car. The employees that were to work on the dead cars gather on one car, up in the dome where the views are epic. Some fall asleep. I head for more coffee.

I plan on reading and listening to my podcasts. But some people stop to chat with me. So I put my phone away for now.

As the day passes, conversations are had and I get to know my coworkers.

After we eat lunch, we head back upstairs. A young man that resembles a Jonas brother is in the back of the train car, playing his guitar. Someone has the idea to do karaoke. So we do! The young guitar man is able to play almost any song we throw at him. I’m surprised that nearly every employee that sings, does a fabulous job. My favorite was the guy who sang “Let it Go” from Frozen, sung in a different range. The same guy also sang “The Dance” by Garth Brooks. Amazing. This reinforces my belief that we are all creative people that don’t fit in the 9-5 world.

We ask the guitar player if he ever plays in bars. He says he has played before for train kids and seasonal workers. This is when I learn that people who work on the train in the summer are known as train kids. Despite my age, I’m going to go with this, as I’m young at heart!

Soon we are at the meet. This is the location where we pass the other of our trains headed north. The trains both stopping. One on the sidetrack and one on the main. If we need supplies, this train will have them. Also, employees exchange “mail” from one train to the other. Small, handwritten notes from one train employee to the other train employee. I love this idea. It’s a simple joy.

As we arrive in Anchorage, I’m again amazed that I have this job.

I love it.