Before I took the tree down yesterday, I managed to snag a few good shot of the hobos in action--my favorite part of the train village this year. There is something about hobos that speaks of freedom for me. Freedom from rules and constrictions. Freedom from responsibility and routine. Freedom from the demands of others and obligations. I like that all you own is in a kerchief above your shoulder and when life sucks, you put it all in there and catch the next train outta there. I like an escape plan.
Petula and I are hobos at heart. We came up with this plan to be hobos when life was getting us down--when responsibilities, kids, and bills were sucking the life out of us and we needed a dream to get us through. And even if Petula doesn't like the idea of sleeping under the stars or eating cold beans out of a can, I've convinced her to join me in my plans to ditch it all.
I was about ready to ditch it all yesterday taking down the damn tree. Sheesh. Why do we forget that it takes a whole day to set it up when we want it to come down in an hour? I have to move furniture, pack the ornaments carefully, pick all that damn tinsel that I thought was swell two weeks ago off every. single. branch. and stuff it in a bag for next year's hell. But first we have to pack up the train and the village before all that fun begins. Ugh.
While I love setting up the train, taking it down is beastly. We are picking up cows and reindeer while ditching tree needles. There are miniature people laying on their sides everywhere and the houses have to be very carefully packed into labeled boxes--and there is tinsel stuck to everything. While I have time to giggle over every nuance setting it up, I'm a bit snarly taking it down.
"Where's Mrs. Santa?" I'm crabbing to Em.
"She's at the store....on the porch with the 'blue people'" she snips back. She's not having fun either.
"Well, then where is Santa? And why isn't he with Mrs. Santa?"
"Oh, he's by the train station. Mrs. Santa had to do some shopping while Santa was greeting travelers" she calmly explains.
Oh. Well, that makes perfect sense. She passes both to me and we pack them with miscellaneous town folk and farm hands. Toss in a few hobos for good measure and we are slowly moving on.
And this is all in the first hour. Add like 5 more hours of all of this and I'm wishing I was a hobo--and we haven't touched the rest of the holiday crap sprinkled around the house.
Yes, Petula, today is one of those days when I wanna be a hobo. Instead of cleaning, washing, and packing holiday knickknacks, I wanna be eating cold beans and tellin' tales of ridin' the rails. It's got to be better than this.
23 comments:
Yesterday was unseasonably warm so we took down the lights around our front deck. In keeping with our custom, we will leave everything else up until after January 6 (Epiphany aka 3-Kings Day).
Build a fire warm your bones and your beans. Just a helpful hint from another hobo at heart.
Lin, oh how I hate taking down Christmas ornaments. I am right there with you. But I would make a horrible hobo. Unless you can find big bubbly bathtubs out on the road.
:-D ... Oh yea, the hobo freedom & fun! I definitely need that runaway time right now. I love this post and those little hobo people are adorable. You're right about them evoking a feeling of freedom. SIGH! This post made my day and then it reminded me that I have to take our tree down. Geez! Yup, that's no fun at all!
While running away is such an attractive option at any time of the year I have always been in total agreement with Joan Rivers when she said "My idea of roughing it is staying in a hotel without room service" (Happy New Year)
Is it true that the word Hobo comes from Homeward Bound? Hummm....... Is that too deep for you?
Stop cleaning and tell us some tales of riding the rails. You can even make up stuff if you want and we'll listen.
Hope your New Year is a wonderful one!
Now I'm not feeling so bad for not getting putting out Christmas stuff this year! As for being a hobo, it sounds fabulous to just mosey on down the road whenever the fancy strikes but if there's no hotel, shower, bathroom or food, I don't think I'd make a good hobo.
You could easily pick up a train from where I live. One goes by every 15 minutes or so...
And you wonder why I don't like decorating. My aspiration as a child was to be a hermit. Still sounds good.
Chuck--It was warm here too, but RAINY! Ugh. All of the frogs came out of hibernation to bask in the warmth and enjoy the rain--it was very odd indeed to see them in December. Don't hobos always have a fire?? It's required, I think.
Highway--Really?! You don't want to sleep under the stars and swap "rail stories"? You don't need a bathtub--we'll be stinky together. :)
Petula--Quick, take the tree down and meet me halfway! Then we'll head somewhere warm for a few months.
Grace--Grace, Petula and I are coming to get you FIRST! Grumpy or not, you are coming with! I think you need an adventure. I'll bet you've got some wild stories after a few swigs of moonshine. :)
Betty--I never thought about where the name came from, Betty. And we can't go home--that's where we are running from! Adventure awaits!! Are you coming with us or should we just meet you?
Beaded Tail--If I could guarantee that I'd be safe, I would soooo take a hobo trip and just see where it takes me and what adventure awaits. Wouldn't that be a great book to write? I think I could be stinky for a bit while I camp out under the stars. Hungry--I'm not sure I could last very long.
Stephanie--First stop....Stephanie's!!! Stock up on beans in can, pally!
Sharky--You are sort of like a hobo when you are hiking, right? I mean, you are sleeping under the stars and eating by the fire. Sigh. Maybe you could come with us and teach us a few survival tricks, Sharky. Oh--I gave my mom your book for Christmas--she is VERY excited to read it!!! :)
That sure sounds tempting...the life of a hobo. With my luck, I'd fall off the train while training to jump on and bust my head wide open! :)
I'm feeling your pain on the tree. I have yet to do it....tomorrow...maybe...then again...I wonder if I leave it up all year, it will blend in with the living room and no one will notice?
We started de-Christmassing yesterday. I don't like decorating, I don't like undecorating. Apparently, I just need people for everything. Unfortunately, the only people I have are the Small Town family and they insist on talking back.
packing up all the Christmas stuff is the worst job there is. Why is it that you can get people to help put it up but take it down and everyone vanishes? I like the idea of being a hobo but I still need some of those creature comforts to go along with it
De- Holidaying SUCKS!!!! Im doing mine next week so.... tell me what railcar your hitchin a rode on and i'll be there!!!! xoxox
I DO love your hobos, but my absolute favorite thing is your Pope outside the KFC.
It's either becoming a Hobo or running away and joining the circus... that could work too! ;)
xo Catherine
Oh sure, it's all fun and games with the hobos till somebody gets thrown from the train!
Your word verification today: pouta
Used in a sentence: I'm gonna pouta little bit more till all this Christmas crap is packed away.
Or it could be a noun:
She's such a pouta.
Uh oh. This WV is "rerat"
To tattle again.
"Since Mom was on the phone with her sister, I got no response the first time I told mom Joey knocked over the train set, so I'll have to rerat on him later."
Chocolate--Someone will notice, pally. And they will point it out to you after snickering silently. It's not a good thing and if I have to put it away, then you must too. Ugh.
Anne--I noticed today that all those tubs packed with holiday crap will go out in the garbage nicely, but somehow I think the kids will cry about it. Bummer. I had an escape plan.
Ann--I like to sleep in a tent, but I need a shower and some electricity to do my hair. I can rough it, but only so far. I wonder if we can be whimpy hobos?
natalee--I'm thinking with all this cold and snow we might be better to just send our tubs of holiday decorations for a little ride on the trains instead. :)
Shieldmaiden--He's workin' the KFC. Dang, if he doesn't meet the hottest chicks outside of there!
Catherine--Ooooh, the circus has all those sparkly costumes and feather-plumey hats! Hobos do not have that. :( Bummer.
Lauren--Ooooh, I'd pouta if someone got thrown from the train. Especially if it was ME!! Nobody is allowed to toss anyone else, okay?? Gees, now we've got hobo rules. You sure had some fun with the WV. Very creative, you are, Lauren. ;)
haha these are too cool! A buddy of mine is determined to hops trains across the country over the summer :P
I know exactly what you mean. The take down is horrendous. But it takes 5 hours??? Good Lord, I'd be mighty snarly too!
Ben--I hope he does it and tells us of his adventures along the way. If we could guarantee safety, I'd go with him. I just have this thing about getting murdered. ;)
Violet--Oh, and that is just the tree! We haven't begun on the living room tree, decorations all over the house, lights outside, and the Christmas dishes. Ugh. Why I do this each year, I don't know. Wanna buy some Christmas decorations CHEAP??? ;)
Haha...I guess it sucks cause you're not working to have something put out to enjoy, but put away to not see for another year. There's not really a rewarding end goal to look forward to. As they say, "mo' money, mo' problems."
;freedom from a roof over your head; freedom from a hot meal for an empty stomach;...
;_)
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