Core Memory: The Train Ride That Changed Everything

I read recently about how kids hold onto six core memories from family trips, and one of mine is unforgettable. My mom, always a bit of a trailblazer, decided we would head cross-country to Chicago by Amtrak—no internet, no contacts, just what we had seen on TV. But something about Chicago called to her.

With my brother heading into high school and me starting junior high, she knew it was time for us to experience something bigger than Modesto.

The budget was tight, which meant four days on Amtrak instead of flying. This was long before train travel was trendy. I wish I had known then what I know now about how beautiful it is to see the country that way. But my mom was ahead of her time. That journey was something else.

Sitting upright for four days was not ideal for a ten-year-old, so I wandered the train cars. While other kids were enjoying meals in the dining car, my mom had carefully packed sandwiches and snacks for us. There was something special about eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the glass viewing car, just watching the world go by. That is where my love of travel really started.

When we arrived, Chicago completely floored me. It was bigger and bolder than anything I had known. I was used to San Francisco, but this felt different. My mom knew I was a carefree kid and she let me be one. At ten years old, I explored downtown Chicago with my twenty dollars, walking into shops, museums, and visitor centers, just taking it all in.

Of course, my mom had plans for us too. We visited the natural history museum, stayed at a hotel that felt unbelievably fancy thanks to a deal she found, and ate deep-dish pizza like it was the best thing we had ever tasted.

We definitely drove her a little crazy along the way, but she gave us something we never would have experienced otherwise. She showed us a world that felt out of reach for a single mom on a tight budget, and she made it happen anyway. That stayed with me.

The trip home was quieter. I was still holding onto everything Chicago had given me. Somewhere along the way, I found a Boy Scout troop on the train and decided I was an honorary member. It made perfect sense at the time.

I still tell this story 35 years later. It is one of my core memories. It is why I believe so deeply in creating moments like this with the people we love.

We only get one trip around the sun together. We should make it count.

That is why, together we trek.