Franks and Frankness

I'm currently en routing to Pittsburgh to visit an old friend from high school... elementary school, actually. The trip is approximately seven hours long from Lancaster to Pittsburgh when it's only four hours for driving. Ridiculous, huh? However, I like riding the train tho. It's more relaxing. Until I encountered the food dilemma.

Few hours later on the train, I got hungry. I brought some snacks (apple, pretzel and yogurt) with me for the trip and naturally, I ate it in the first hour on the train. I strolled through cars to the last car, the wonderful cafe car filled with all "delish" food: hot dogs, cheeseburgers, sandwiches, chips, milk, soda, muffins, and all very healthy food. None of those food behind the counter looked very appealing to me. There was a friendly man waiting to take my order and he had a very patient smile. I tapped my fingers upon the counter and pouted my lips... A few clues to indicate that I was being very indecisive with what I should get to satisfy my howling stomach.

I wrote, "Is the hot dog good? Please be honest :)" on a sheet of napkin and showed it to the cashier. Yes, I even drew a smiley face with curls around her head.

His response?

"Eh... No"

Hmmm, okay... I then made some gestures by waved my hand toward the food, and asked any were good.

*Chuckling* "No" He added the emphasis on the "no" by shook his head and gave me a sympathetic smile.

How fabulous. Just what my stomach needed to hear.

Yeah, I appreciate his frankness. He just saved my four dollars by not ordering a sandwich, cheeseburger, or a Frank. I wish more people were like him, being honest about their merchants instead of screwing me over. Creating a ballpark with how much I could have saved with their honesty, I could buy a lakehouse and paid off the mortgage. (Yeah, I earn that much, and yet I'm still trying to complete my BA degree in Studio Arts just for fun.)

People... I was being sarcastic, okay? Otherwise, I would've rode a purple helicopter to Pittsburgh, instead riding the Amtrak at this moment.




Flatbreads& Hummus
Coffee

They seemed the most "appealing" on the menu out of all snacks. It may not be much. I shrugged and ordered a cup of "fresh" brewed coffee and "flatbreads" with hummus. I smiled and hummed as I added sugar and cream to my coffee and remembered how my dad would joke,"Bethany, would you like some coffee to your cup of sugar and cream?"

I strolled through several cars again, and observed exhausted moms sleeping in their chairs next to their peacefully sleeping angels, kids vicariously playing with their video games, college students watching a movie on their mac books, and business men typing something so important and business-like on their laptops.

At last, I found my seat and sat down. Did some wishful thinkings, and observed people surrounded me once again. I set my food on the seat back tray with a bit of eagerness to fill my tummy with at least something. Opening the food box, and to my dismay, it turned out that the Amtrak considered saltine crackers as flatbreads. I mean.. Really?? Geesh, I spent $2.75 for flatbreads and hummus. And I got this? I ate four saltine crackers in less than two minutes. I was that hungry, okay!? ... The crackers were very satisfying... goodness.

A friendly lady sitting next to me, offered me her bag filled with food. I politely declined it.

Dang, why did I rejected her generous offer?? I'm still hungry! Too late, she's sleeping soundly.

I could feel my stomach mumbling, "Good job, Bethany."






Countdown: 19 more days.