taking the A-train

hey, amtrak! anyone from your PR department listening? if you need any smiling people to rave about their most recent trip riding the rails for a commercial anytime soon, look no further. i'm the girl for the job. for a thirty second spot, i might be able to squeeze in everything we loved about our train trip last week from raleigh to charlotte and back again. you could start by filming the kids and me spread out in a roomy booth-type sitting area, stretching out our legs on the pristinely clean, comfortable seats and taking in the scenic views from the wide windows. if it's raining at the time, i could make the point that lounging back while playing a game of uno with my kids sure beats the alternative of navigating the highway in a torrential downpour (as it was all along our route). i could point out the electrical outlets beneath each window, which are perfect for laptops and cell phone chargers. i could talk about how, unlike airplanes, you can easily stay connected to the internet, and how you can constantly send tons of cute pictures of your children entertaining themselves to your spouse via cell phone. i could even fire up "the muppet movie" on the portable DVD player for you, and talk about how headphones aren't even necessary since your nearest neighbor is practically out of earshot. interested in showcasing more of the amenities? we could take a short walk over to the snack car. be sure to pan over all the food and beverages, highlighting the fact that they are offered free of charge (two per passenger, of course.) the kids would love to guide you through the surprisingly big restroom, complete with blue toilet water and a very loud flusher. and of course, getting to go pee-pee while traveling at 70 miles per hour is a thrill for any four-year old. how about the personal service? my children would be eager to tell you how nice the attendants are, who engaged them in conversation about their trip and answered their innumerable questions. they're still quite smitten with the stickers, coloring books, and even a train whistle they were so generously given at the beginning of our ride. all of the above, for a ticket that only costs $12.50 per child? that has to be the best deal around. our children had been counting down the days until their first-ever train ride, and our experience certainly did not disappoint. thank you for giving them such a thrill. yes, amtrak, if you're looking for your new #1 fan, i'm your girl. call me.