Car 22...I'm in love!

Hello all! Just wanted to drop an update. Things are happening for Fireflies, my young adult romance about alien symbiotes that takes place in the Appalachian Mountains. More on that soon as I know more…

Now for another Pining For You update. This past Friday I spent time enjoying Jim Thorpe instead of working. I needed the break. I’ve been working so hard between teaching and the book, that I definitely needed to blow off some steam. So I had a mini-vaca with a friend who had never visited. We went on a tour of the old jail, the library, hit up the great views from the Asa Packer mansion (still haven’t toured it but it’s on my to-do list), train ride (of course), ate some delicious sushi, and saw The Gathering Gloom, a tribute band to The Cure. They were fantastic and I loved the venue. We spent the night in a lovely Jim Thorpe Inn suite followed by steak and eggs breakfast at the Inn the next morning. It was a wonderful time.

The biggest highlight of the day was running into a conductor on the train that I met back in August. It was on that train ride that I conceived of the idea to write Pining for You. This was the first time I saw him since that day, and I was overjoyed to get to spend some time with him. He inspired a character in the book, and I remember thinking that I don’t know his name. In addition, Car 22, a major scene from the book, was also attached for the trip. What a treat that was! I was like a kid at Disney World. To be fair, I have a kid-like soul to begin with. It doesn’t take much to put a smile on my face. Anyway, it was a beautiful car with a balcony on the back, and the number (22) is meaningful to me and the book.

Now, to talk about John. John has been a conductor for the train for the past 30 years. Yes! 30 years. He remembered me as the woman who was riding the train on her own. I’m an introvert and deep thinker, so I quite like time by myself. But I think John was worried about me. So we chatted on the first ride and had a lovely conversation.

This past Friday, I told John about the book and that he inspired a character, and there are a few scenes that take place on the train. He seemed very flattered and the next thing I knew, I was riding on the back of the caboose with unobstructed views for the trip back with him. John told me all about the tracks, the signals, how to read them, and it was such a wonderful time. I also learned that his wife passed a few years ago. I was very sad to hear about that and gave him some extra energy when I hugged him when our time ended. He’s a wonderful person and I’m so lucky to have met him. I told him I’d see him again soon.

Now, as for the whole trip, I have to explain that there is something very special about the town of Jim Thorpe for me. Go with me for a minute… Every time I step foot there, things I’ve written in my book seem to manifest—seeing John, Car 22 being attached to the train, recognizing someone on the bike trail while riding the train, and having the most delicious steak and eggs breakfast (a big part of the book). These things feel magical almost. There’s also a rightness too. I guess that’s the best way I can describe it. My heart and soul feel lighter. There's this one spot that I go to next to the river, and when I raise my face to the mountains, and breathe the fresh air, it feels like home. I wonder if everyone senses a place that they are destined to be. I’ve written about trees and forests my whole life. I’ve recently uncovered even more short stories I wrote from when I was younger that take place in nature and the woods. So kismet.

Enjoy my pictures of Car 22, John, and steak and eggs at the Inn!

Until my next update…