Can We Back the Train Up?

Sacramento, California is known for its awe-inspiring museums - the train museum is popular with kids of all ages, myself included. On special days throughout the year, the city opens all of its museums up for free, attracting crowds from all over the State. February 1st, 2020 was just a few short months ago, but it seems like several lifetimes ago now.

Trains represent forward motion, progress, and the beginnings of coast to coast travel in America. The heyday of the passenger cars was a great era in American history, a time when elegant riders ate sophisticated meals in dining cars dripping with Victorian decor. Velvet settees, finely carved woodwork and crystal chandeliers formed the backdrop for these fine meals and refined conversation among the riders. It was definitely a far cry from today's crowded airlines with tiny bags of pretzels or overpriced plastic packaged sandwiches for sale. And it meant the beginnings of business transactions and enterprise that spanned the globe, not just the country.

My day on Feb 1st was joyful and fun. Parents were sharing the magic of train travel with children who were then taken upstairs to see the antique HO and N gauge trains they had played with in their youth. Laughter was everywhere, noone had a mask on and some were even singing with joy. Crowds were normal and welcomed.

I scored two cookbooks that day; both of which have helped me bridge the restaurant closure gap by imagining that I was hurled back in time, to a gilded age where I was enjoying this meal while heading across the country on an iron giant that symbolized progress and industry.

My husband and I then went to a wonderful Irish pub down the street and happily talked about trains over a Guinness.

I relive that day with great joy, but I wonder when or if we will ever have such a carefree crowd in a museum with such history and memories. Will we go back to normal, or will the "new normal" be with us forever? Will museum entries be limited? Or just like the human ingenuity that created the trains, will our scientists and doctors innovate a solution to this horrible pandemic that cripples us all?

Sometimes I fantasize about getting in that train car and putting it into reverse - going backwards in time and raising my voice so that the American people (and our President) actually listen, and stop this virus in its tracks before so many lives are lost and so many financially injured by the shutdowns. Or would they listen? Or would they just go about their business and brand me as crazy, only to discover way too late that I was right?

Future groups of children will study a new museum exhibit; one that documents what happened in America through this crisis. Let's hope it has a happy ending.