Luanne @ Fifty-Nine: Riding The Rails

Molly came up with the brilliant idea that Steve and GDizzle should ride the local commuter train from downtown to Lebanon - about an hour-long ride (GDizzle worked on the trains in Nashville for a long time, a long time ago). I thought Lindley and Everley would enjoy it, so I suggested that they and a parental unit join Steve and GDiz. Meanwhile, Molly and I would drive cars to the train station in Lebanon to pick the riders up (there is no return train service until the next morning). Brilliant plan, right? And then there's the Davidson plan ...

Steve came home from work early, changed clothes, and said he and GDiz would be ready to be taken to the train station in about 30 minutes. I said fine, that I would take a quick shower (I had GDiz and the girls all day, so taking a shower was not in the cards). I showered, got S and G in GDiz's car, took them downtown, and deposited them at the train station.

I returned home, changed cars to Maribeth's car (because it had the car seats in it), got Maribeth and Everley and Lindley in the car, and headed back downtown. We were planning to pick up Sam to ride the train, but time got short and traffic got busy, and he was in a meeting, so we marked him off the itinerary. I deposited Maribeth and the girls and hoped everyone would find each other and the train.

I returned home again to potentially meet up with Molly, who had been in a meeting but was texting to see what the plan was and did she need to change cars. Since we didn't know if Gdiz's wheelchair would fit into her Prius, we decided that she should get GDiz's car and drive to Lebanon. Meanwhile, I left to go pick up Sam, listening to my Google maps, since I had no idea where his newest office was. Keep in mind that it is now full time Nashville rush hour, the hour that everybody in Nashville needs to go somewhere, and nobody is really sure of anything except how to tailgate and honk their horns.

I find Sam's office, pick him up, and ask him to direct me to the Interstate and to the train station. He got me to the Interstate just fine, and ahead of all the really thick traffic. However, once we got to Lebanon, his direction/location skills seemed to wane. First we headed down the desired road. Then Sam decided that we had gone too far, so we turned around and went back the other way. Then he decided that the first way was correct, so I did a u-turn and headed back the first way. Then he decided that the second way was right so I turned around again and headed back the other way. Then Molly called asking where we were since she was already at the train station and waiting with Steve, GDiz, Maribeth, Lindley, and Everley. Sam decided we needed to turn into somebody's driveway while Molly pinned something on somewhere so he could see it on his phone. Which ended up being in the middle of the traintrack. He studied his phone some more and decided we needed to go back the first way. And we did. And then he said, "THERE THEY ARE, TURN HERE!" And I did, and we all met up.

So Sam, Steve, and Gdiz get in one red Camry and head for Demos', where we were planning to eat a family dinner. Everley did not wish to get in the second red Camry, but she really needed a new diaper rather than the poopy one she had on, so she got convinced (maybe manhandled is a better term). She and Lindley were placed in their respective car seats and belted in, and Molly sat (maybe squeezed is a better term) in between them. Maribeth got in the front with me and off we headed to the restaurant.

We all convened in the lobby, which Lindley and Everley decided would be a grand place to run and jump and crawl on the floor and the lobby benches. We were shown to our tables - well most of us. Everley decided that going to the table was a bad idea and came only because her had to - or maybe because her mom was carrying her. Once she arrived at the table, she decided she was having none of it and took off for parts unknown. Which ended up at the door to the men's restroom. Which she has no idea of what it is, regardless of LaLa's attempts to explain it to her.

Anyhow, after a promise of ice cream (which ended up being a smoothie, which ended up being split between Lindley and Everley because it was not fair for E to get ice cream and not L), Everley returned to the table and ate dinner. As did the rest of us.

Once all food had been consumed, Maribeth, Sam, and their offspring sprinted for the door and headed back to Nashville. Molly, Steve, GDiz, and I got in his car and did the same. Eventually everyone returned to their homes and beds with another Davidson adventure in the books.

And here are some pictures of the adventure: