The Union Station.

Note: My first words I wrote on this blog were words of discontent; unsure of what to write. The following is a short allegory of a series of events that are right now happening in my life. I hope that I can help make a union station.

There is a beautiful train station, in a beautiful city somewhere in the world. The station makes plans a month in advance with a new touring line for their passengers to disembark for a day tour to visit to their beautiful city. This is no problem and the reservation is gladly accepted and marked on the months calendar. It's a month away, and the platform is hardly used for anything other than visitors; their is on very slim occasions a standing contract for offloading freight for when another platform might be in use.

The platform on this occasion has a freight train that will be coming shortly before the touring line. The platform operators make adjustments and give a heads up to the touring line, as a sign of good faith and business that the freight train will have been through the platform days earlier- but that certainly there should be no issues with the touring line. Besides, there are commitments that have been made with the freight line (contracts if you will) months, if not years in advance that set precedence over any other train line that may have to go through. The touring line, carefully thinks the situation over, realizing that there guests have paid good money to see the beautiful city think nothing of the slim chances that a freight line might off-load more than can be moved by the platform alone.

Upon the appointed time, the freight line arrives and so begins the offloading of parcels, boxes, and other here's and there's that a freight line would leave for a city. Before anyone has anytime to make adjustments, the platform begins to realize that there is too much freight than there is platform. Tensions arises and angers and emotion flare and while the freight insists they are doing what they intended, the station looks in disarray at the beautiful platform realizing that in a matter of days, the touring line will come through only to look at platform not detailed in the golds, and jewels, of say- the union station, but as more of a filled in port of box cars, and pallets.

The freight train, only leaving a day before the touring line's arrival, leaves the platform owners in dismay and perplexity on how they may present a city and not present themselves. It is a consequence seemed unavoidable- The platform will have to remain more of a ship yard, than of a union station.

Meanwhile a touring line roles quickly across the steel rails provided for vacation, destination, and sometimes shipment. The platform radios the incoming touring train a few days in advance of the situation and the conductor of the train with little words accepts the difficult situation and and prepares himself mentally for what may turn into a large catastrophe.

While the touring line is now hours away from the station. The station simply keeps there best to work and stay focused, and the thoughts creep in, "maybe it's best to just smile and show them what boxes are like."

The touring line arrives and with slight embarrassment and with quick apologies to the conductor, the platform staff prepares their hands to accompany any and all guests off the train who would like to see the city.

The touring train doors open and the travelers step down the steps to find what looks to be boxes that stand as tall as the ceiling. Checking there tour guide, they are slightly disappointed. Except for a few small young ones who look up, and see all the different things, and ask "Mommy, are we gonna learn what its like to work with trains?". The mother realizing her son was watching the young platform hands help the visitors smiles and also reealizing it is best to make due with the situation at hand simply replies "Yes dear, we're going to learn what it's like to work on trains"

The mothers gathered together come to the conductor, and the platform operator, ask if they can help and learn what its like to offload a platform and to learn what it's like to work with trains. Bewildered the operator smiles at the offer and gratefully says, "yes" and with not much more thought, the visitors and the platform hands all happily work together to help finish clearing the little freight still standing idly.

Boxes are moved and train cars are investigated by curious young boys. Girls pull out toys from some of the boxes that were slightly mangled from the long journey. Parents hold their children's hand and take photographs as their children try on the large jumpsuits of the men working for the platform. Smiles are had, laughs are returned, and the families of the touring line realize that the day is now over, and as they look at the platform they realize that have helped restore the platform into what it is usually known as- The Union Station.