Gonna Hop a Freight Train.....

Well, not really.

But I've always wanted to. Back in a previous wifetime, there was a side rail near our house where freight trains frequently pulled over to allow another one to pass. There were always empty boxcars with the doors open on them, and I have always wanted to jump on one just to see where I ended up. Besides jail, of course. I'm not athletic enough to jump on a moving train, so I would have to sidle up next to one that's stopped on the track and hope I'm not spotted.

I had this great idea that I would take a laptop (now it would be my iPad) and a cell phone, some money, warm clothes, a pillow and blanket, and hope against all hope that the boxcar I chose would indeed be empty. I wouldn't want to share my space with just any old hobo. On the other hand, I'd be willing to bet that hypothetical hobo would provide lots of interesting material for my writing. That is, if he didn't cut my throat and/or steal my iPad and/or cell phone and/or money and/or pillow and blanket first.

I seriously considered adding hopping a freight train to my 50 Things to Do list, but I knew then I would be obligated to attempt to follow through. And I'm too close to retirement to risk being fired for "moral turpitude."

It would be just my luck that the boxcar I chose would be headed for the scrap heap. The train would stop, I would hear someone approaching, but I'd be too afraid to call out, and before I knew it, the doors would be locked and no one would ever find me.

Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all.