Vacation

Matt and I love taking vacations. We like exploring new places, seeing new sites and experiencing what the unfamiliar has to offer. We have rafted white waters, dwelled in big cities and snorkeled the aqua-blue ocean. So when we decided to pack up and head south for our first four-family-member getaway, I questioned what sort of experience we would have. No sandy beaches, dusty rock walls or bright city lights awaited us. Instead our adventure took us to a small town’s railway station where a big, blue tank engine named Thomas awaited us. To my surprise the memories we made in just a few, hot, sweaty hours are ones I’m sure we will keep forever—at least Matt and I will. But this time it wasn’t about us. It was about a two-and-a-half year old with a deep-rooted passion for everything trains.

We feared that perhaps the trip was premature. Would he be too young to appreciate it? Would he be scared by the enormous scale of Thomas? Or would he be completely disinterested? Our questions were answered as we pulled up to the station and heard our little one cry out, “There he is! There’s Thomas!” In that moment, the blistering temperatures, endless detours and ridiculously winding roads we had taken to get us there didn’t matter. They were small prices to pay to see such excitement and awe. It made me realize that perhaps this wasn’t the same as parasailing in the Bahamas or riding to the top of the Empire State Building. In some very important ways it was so much more.