We took the girls to the Heber Creeper's Polar Express on Friday. If you have never had this experience,you really need to take your family.
The Heber Creeper is steeped in tradition for me. My parents used to take my brother and I to Heber for a weekend every summer. With my dad being in the construction business that was as far and as long as we could go for our summer vacation. We would stay at this hotel right on the main street of Heber (which,in spite of the fact that is was nice then, I am sure is a roach infested hell hole now)and swim all day everyday. With one small exception - the ride on the Heber Creeper. Oh how I loved that train.
So when I had my own kids, I could not wait for them to have the same experience. However, Dan was not as keen on the idea as I was. He saw it is an expensive frivolity. Whatever. Camping isn't all that sometimes either. So I decided to take the kids there without him. There are two rides you can take when you board the train. One is about a 45 minute ride and the other twice that - for those of you who struggle with math that is one and one half hours. Dan "suggested" that I take them on the shorter ride as he was "concerned" that I may have talked it up too much and they, in fact, may find it quite lame. Wrongo buster. They loved it and were so sad to see it end so soon. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Obviously when I heard about about the Polar Express last year I decided we had to take the girls. I must warn you, it is a pricey endeavor. In fact, I would advise you to start saving now. But the experience is priceless. You board the train to the North Pole and Santa's elves come around and ask what you want for Christmas. After which, you are served hot chocolate and cookies from Santa's other half. Mrs. Claus then makes her way through the train and passes out her cookie recipe as parents take advantage of their photo ops. Santa's helpers read the Polar Express story aloud and the entire train sings Christmas carols. Once you reach the North Pole (where you see Santa standing outside waving to all of the children) he boards the train to talk to all of the good girls and boys. And, let's be honest, what are you going to do? Tell Santa that your kids have been holy terrors for the last few weeks? More photo ops and the train arrives back at the station. And, look at that, I just saved you a whole bunch of money telling you all about it.
I haven't much been in the Christmas spirit this year. But when I see my kids experience that kind of joy and anticipation I can't help to feel it - at least a little.
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