The Hensley Clan: Our Day Out With Thomas

Today we spent the "Day Out with Thomas" at Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton with Josh, Jen and Jacob. This is year we planned ahead and purchased tickets to ride in Car #1. Number One Baby! The anticipation was high as I raced towards Felton - dreaming of seeing Thomas up close and personal. Highway 17 turned into the Indy 500. I was Mario Hensleti and nobody was going to stand in my way. We hit the parking lot at 10:20 A.M. with a departure time for Thomas at 10:45. We are cutting it too close. I looked at Alycyn with that "Look" reminding her that "I" wanted to leave earlier. She quickly lathered the dozing children with sunscreen as I wrestled the jogging stroller from the car. Tyler buckled, Nathanial on my shoulders and I was off for Car #1. Number One Baby. Nathanial wanted to stop to see the ducks in the pond. "No time", I stammered. "We can see them on the way out." I could feel myself picking up the pace - wanting to jog, really wanting to run. We brought the jogging stroller for goodness sake. Let's use it. I kept my cool as best I could. Nathanial was beginning to become distracted by all of Thomas' friends. If I could just get him in sight of that lovely blue engine. Then he would be on my side. If you are not first you're last. Finally! I see Thomas and more importantly I see a line marked Car #1. Number One Baby. I shed Nathanial. Quickly hand him over to mom. I manuever through the masses and end up 2nd in line. I did it. I will put Nathanial so close to Thomas he will be able to smell the Island of Sodor. The rest of the group soon joined me. I quickly went over the plan - whichever side the enemy - I mean family - in front of us picked we would sit opposite them right up against Thomas. It was perfect. "All Aboard" I grew impatient with the ticket taker, he couldn't move fast enough. "How much are they paying you to slow me down." I hoisted Nathanial up onto the train. I raced toward the closest seat to Thomas and plopped Nathanial right into the CatBird seat. I said with great pride, "Well son, what do you think?" Nathanial looked at Thomas' big back side and looked directly into my wide eyes and said,"Daddy, I can't see his wheels." So as the train pulled out of the station, I threw Nathanial overboard and screamed, "Now can you see them son?" Just kidding about that last bit. We did have a great time after I got over the fact that Nathanial couldn't care less how close he was to Thomas if he could not see those wheels.