Train Trip Day 1: Destination Portland, OR

Thanks everyone for your greetings! I am excited to share my photos with you all. I am a bit tired right now, so I will keep this short and will post more tomorrow. This is my first time taking a train ride. I lied – notorious for it – I took one from Riverside to San Francisco with my dorm mates Arnold and Bro Jose back when I was a freshman in college, but that was on CalTrain. That trip took 10 hours and I was asleep most of the time. This is my first time taking a "fancy" train ride. Let's see how well I fair cross-country.

My sister, Lucy, dropped me off at Diridon Station in San Jose, CA. The train was supposed to depart at 8:39pm, but there was an hour delay. I didn’t board until 9:35pm. We didn’t leave until 9:48pm. Funny thing, I imagined passengers would wait on the platform, but no, they keep the gates at this train station locked until 6 minutes before the train arrives. We lined up like a herd of cows and once the gates opened we walked to our designated cars.

Seats are nice, cozy and spacious. There are electrical outlets at every row; 2 seats per row. I was in the aisle seat, but legroom was big and the passenger next to me is small. It is late so I am going to knock out until tomorrow morning. Hey, end of the world was supposed to be today. I guess we dodged that as well.

Introduction

When I told my family that I was going to take a solo trip in December, I didn't know what was in store for me. I didn't know that 4 months after I made the announcement I would have a seizure. I didn't know 3 months after that I would have a second seizure. And I didn't know that my friend would pass away at such a young age. So as I sit here packing, I find myself thinking, how can I introduce my blog to you and help you understand why I am taking so many trips and why now? So if you are interested, follow my blog as I take a U.S. cross-country train trip to Portland, Chicago, Washington, D.C., & Orlando over a course of 2 weeks (which starts tomorrow). A trip to Paris & Switzerland in February 2013. Then a trip to Chicago in May 2013. And maybe a trip to Australia in December 2013. Who knows, maybe I will throw in several road trips in between. You know, cause life is short, complicated, and mysterious. You never know what is going to happen.

To my friend Nick, these adventures are dedicated to you.