Chicago to New York City

By Train and a Catholic Guest House

April 29-April 30, 2022

Dear Friends,

I am writing to you on board the “Lake Shore Limited” train on my way to Penn Station in New York City.
Last evening, I arrived at Union Station in Chicago to take the overnight train and Roxanne stayed for
the night at the hotel. She left this morning on the train back to St. Louis and by now she is probably
nearly there. I have taken this train once before on a similar journey in 2019 to New York, only that time
it had been an ancestral trip. Like last time, I have a bedroom in the Sleeper Car, which is a wonderful
way to travel across America. I have a bit of space, privacy, and a couch that makes into a bed, along
with a sink, toilet, and shower. I even have a full-length mirror. Next to the couch, I have a long picture
window that can be covered by thick curtains that Velcro to stay closed. Above the couch is a pull-down
bunk with a ladder. I slept on this bunk on the last trip, figuring if I was going to experience that I needed to do so before I got much older. I had always wanted to sleep on a bunk in a train and I am glad I did. The movement rocked me to sleep and there was a strap that I could put around my waist to hold me in
because the train swayed quite a bit.

However, unlike that last trip, I am choosing the couch that turns into a bed instead. The Steward, who is assigned to the car I am on, made the bed up for me. He is very nice and professional, and I feel well taken care of. He just told me that once the train gets underway, I can go down to the dining car and have a complimentary glass of wine, which I think is very nice. So, after I am done unpacking a few items for the night and for in the morning, I am going to head down to the dining car.

I am so happy to be here, traveling once again. I find almost everyone friendly on these trips, everyone
seems to be in a good mood, happy to be traveling like me. Strangers suddenly became like old friends.
This is one of the things I love about this type of travel; people lighten up and the atmosphere becomes
a world of its own. We chat about where we are going and about travel experiences we have had,
comparing notes. -A few words here though about safety, no one ever gives their last name. Just their
first name. No one usually tells exactly where they are from either. What state or country, yes, even
perhaps a large city, but it is wise not to give away exact details. Also, avoid telling exact details of where
you are traveling. Keep everything general. These unspoken rules, I have noticed, are always there
amongst fellow travelers.

I walked down through the moving train, being careful because the train was rocking quite a bit, down
through another train car until I found the dining car. Already there were a few passengers like me
seated in the booths that lined each side of the car. I nodded to them and someone behind me said, “Is
this where we get our free drink?” Everyone smiled. “This is the place.”

The gentleman behind the counter handed me a small open box and in it was a plastic, one-serving bottle
of wine and a plastic cup. Yes, I know, plastic. I suppose this is for sanitary and safety reasons. Gone are
the days it seems of elegant dishes in dining cars. I smiled, though, and carried my wine back to the
bedroom because I wanted to look out the window at the passing lights. I am not sure why, but I felt like a little kid once again on a grand adventure. I feel the same way when I am on a ship and we are leaving
port or coming back in. I suppose it is because I am on my way somewhere exciting and I enjoy the
movement onward. I like to think of my ancestors feeling the same way on their movement westward,
especially my 2nd Great Grandfather, James Widgery. He always seemed to be pressing westward from
England to Omaha, Nebraska, across Nebraska until he finally came to the base of the Rocky Mountains,
before he died. Only I was going eastward. It was natural I should think of James since I was on a train.
He helped to build the railway bridge across the river in Omaha, Nebraska and it was this that had
brought him from England.

I slept well rocked by the train. I vaguely remember stopping for a time in some town I believe was in
Ohio and being stationary for a while, but then the rocking started up again and I fell back to sleep,
waking early. I had not set up my coffee press and travel kettle because the space in the tiny bedroom
did not allow for this, however, next to my cabin was the coffee station for this train car and so I helped
myself to some. I like this because the coffee, like the meals, is included with the Business fare.

So, I enjoyed my coffee in bed and watched the scenes go by my window. It wasn’t long and we were
traveling not far from the shore of Lake Erie. I could see the lake in the distance. About this time, I
headed to breakfast and there was a table available. Last time everyone shared tables, but no one
seemed to be sharing this time. The waiter brought me a menu and I chose a cheese omelet with
hash browns and coffee. The menu has about three breakfast plates to choose from along with a variety
of cereals, fruit, and pastries. Again, everything was served on plastic and the food was okay but not
great. I was not on the train for the food though. I just enjoyed the movement and the views out the
windows and the fact that I did not have to deal with the hassle of flying.

By the time I came back to my room, the steward had already set everything back in order. The bed was
made back into a couch and he had emptied the trash. I pulled out my computer from my backpack and
began writing to you. That is where I am at now. I have about 7 hours left until I arrive at Penn Station in
New York City. Between now and then, there is lunch and an hour and a half stop in Albany. The steward
told me I could get off then and get some air. There was a café also inside the station if I wanted to get a
specialty coffee or snack.

This is what I did. I have always been nervous when traveling alone and leaving my luggage on some sort
of transportation. I worried the bus or train would leave without me. However, I walked to the café and
bought a Resees, and sat out on the bench on the platform next to the sleeper car my room was in. The
steward was out there as well as some of the other passengers and we talked about Albany being the
capital of New York. I thought about how pleasant the weather was. Much nicer than the weather I
had left back in Missouri and in Chicago. Blue skies and warm, with a light breeze. How strange that New
York was warmer than Jefferson City and Chicago at the end of April!

We are back on the train now and I am packing everything up that has been laying out. We will be
arriving at Penn Station within the hour and this time I wanted to see New York City as we were
traveling through. Last time, in 2019, I had been busy writing and didn’t notice until we were
approaching the station. This time I wanted to see New York City as we passed through. I saw then we
were traveling along a stretch of water and looking at Google Maps on my phone I saw that this was the
Hudson River. I have always wanted to see the Hudson River! We traveled for what seemed a very long time along the river, but then I saw the skyscrapers of Manhattan.

I noticed too that we were running a few minutes late and I hoped we would get there soon. I wanted to
make it to the Catholic guest house I was staying at before it started getting dark. Soon then, the train
came into a dark tunnel and I could see iron framework and knew we would soon be at Penn Station. I
knew this because this was the dark tunnel that surprised me while I was writing on my last
journey. It was soon after that we had come into the station. Now, the slow screech of the train came to
a halt. I began gathering my luggage when the steward showed up and offered to carry my suitcase off
the train for me. I was very grateful because it was very heavy and there were steps to get down to the
platform.

As I came out of Penn Station a whole different world was in front of me. Businessmen and women
carrying briefcases, grandmas pulling shopping carts, people of all cultures talking, handing out
pamphlets on different issues, a homeless man yelling out the end of the world, and two policemen
walking, one carrying a donut. There was a lot of litter on the sidewalks and puddles of dirty water here
and there. It was a lot different than walking in the other direction to Times Square, where I had stayed
before. I walked quickly, stopping at a sandwich shop just long enough to grab a tuna fish sandwich to
take with me to the guest house for dinner.

Ten minutes later I was standing in front of the Leo House, a historical Catholic guest house. There was
a buzzer to push next to the front door and I could see a middle-aged man inside behind the reception
desk. He looked up and smiled at me reaching under the counter and then I heard the door unlock with
a click.

I had reserved the room here six months ago. The reviews were really good and what I read was that it
was very safe and clean. There was a chapel as well and morning Mass was said 4 days a week. Breakfast
too was included with the room, but not served on the weekends. Well, this was a Saturday night, so I
would have to get breakfast on my own the next morning. After getting my key I took the elevator to my
room on the 8th floor. My room was a single, so I had a single bed, a desk with a simple light, and a
nightstand. It was very clean and I had everything I needed, and it cost less than even a modest hotel
does in New York City.

After unpacking what I needed I took my sandwich and a small bottle of wine and went down to the
walled garden located out the back of the house. There were some tables out there and I enjoyed my
dinner in this little oasis at the heart of the city. I still couldn’t believe how warm it was for April in New
York. By now the sun was setting and I had on a light jacket, but I was comfortable enough.

I was thinking too about how I was excited about beginning the more spiritual aspect of the trip. Going on pilgrimage was one of the main reasons the trip had been planned in the first place. Soon I would have time to settle down and put away the bustle of everyday life for a while and focus instead on balancing myself once again within the Father. That is why these journeys for me are so important.

I headed up to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a big day. I wanted first to go to Sunday Mass at the
church close by and then I had a driver picking me up to take me to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. I
would be boarding the Queen Mary 2, bound for England. Onboard, there would be two formal balls,
guest speakers, High Tea each afternoon, a spa, and lots of entertainment and food. However, there
would also be time to decompress and relax, write and reflect. Onboard QM2 you could let go and
simply do what you wanted to do for six full days. I have found there is a daily flow one gets into which
helps one to separate and simply float in the moment. This is one of the main reasons I travel by ship, rather than fly. It is slower and much more refined. I will tell you all about life on board next week. Until
then-Blessing to you! -Jody