friday five: decisions, decisions

chocolate and peanut butter. The best combo. ever.

At RevGals Songbird writes: Since I've been in the midst of a discernment process, I've done a lot of reflecting on how we make decisions. But don't worry, I'm not going to ask you to reveal a dark story about a poor decision, or a self-flagellating story about an embarrassing one. Let's keep it simple and go with five word pairs. Tell us which word in the pair appeals to you most, and after you've done all five, give us the reason why for one of them. 

Here they are:

1) Cake or Pie
2) Train or Airplane: yes
3) Mac or PC: this deserves invites a lengthy explanation, from which I'll refrain
4) Univocal or Equivocal: given my other answers
5) Peter or Paul: Mary

I'll go with number 2. I really like trains. When I was growing up I took the train to NY to visit my grandparents. I took it on a further trip as a teen to visit my great-aunt in Philly. In college I visited a classmate in Pittsburgh after Christmas one year, and we took the train overnight from there to Indiana to return to school for the new semester. I've traveled by train in Britain, and here on the lone commuter line that runs to Nashville. I love the rhythm of the train's sway as it hunkers down the track. I love seeing the world's back yards and back doors. 

I am in awe of planes. The sheer marvel of getting those babies into the air never fails to inspire me. In an earlier phase of life I used to go to the airport just to watch plans take off and land. When I fly I love to look out the window and see the world from an entirely different perspective than I can ever appreciate on the ground. On one trip from CT to DC the night was so clear that I could make out the map unfolding below me by the brightness of city light-clusters and string-of-light highways. I can still see it in my mind.

Both modes of transportation offer an opportunity to read without much interruption, something I savor.

friday five: planes, trains and automobiles

At RevGals Songbird writes: By the time you're reading this, I'll be en route to a Great Big City to see my son in a play. I'll go by car and bus and train and no doubt cab and maybe even subway. Thus, our Friday Five.

1) What was the mode of transit for your last trip?
That would be the ever-faithful car. I love road trips.

2) Have you ever traveled by train?
I used to take either the train or bus to visit my grandparents in NYC. And of course in the UK, the train is the way to go!

3) Do you live in a place with public transit, and if so, do you use it?
My little town is the terminus of the only public transit rail line to Nashville. I've taken it once. Said little town does not have any other public transportation.

4) What's the most unusual vehicle in which you've ever traveled?
At the time it was unusual, but not so much anymore: a stretch SUV-limo that seated 25 people. It was a Chamber of Commerce event to a celebrity car race at the old Nashville Speedway (Mark Collie, for you country music fans!). Somewhere I have a picture, I'll have to dig it out, scan and post one of these days!

5) What's the next trip you're planning to take?
I'm going on retreat in another week, but I don't really call that a trip. I suppose the next trip in the works will be for our son's wedding in April, to Augusta, GA. We'll combine that with our annual spring visit to Melrose, which is essentially in the metro Augusta area.

Have a wonderful trip, SB!