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Naturally, like most things in my life, even going on a nice family vacation can't be normal.
First off, most people take a plane when it's across a country as large as Canada. We took a train to and from Toronto/Edmonton. It took 2 (48 hours of hell) days.
When we got to Edmonton we stayed one night. Then the next day we took a 3 hour train ride to Calgary. Where I met my friend Emps. That was the first weird thing. How often do you get to meet and hang with a friend from the internet?
We travelled all over Alberta (I have a fossil Shark Tooth now!) And when the time came for the train ride back to Toronto we'd (my family) had had more then enough of each other!
On The Train on the way back however, there was something you wouldn't expect.
The first night I went to bed roughly early. Around 11 O'clock and we'd gotten on the train at 8 O'clock (pm). The next morning my parents told me "Did you know the Rankin Family is onboard?" Now, most of you wont know who the Rankin Family is...but me, being Canadian, and loving East Coast music, and having an uncle who adores them helped me with knowing who they were! So hearing they were on the same train I was on was pretty cool!
My parents told me all about how the fiddlist Brian had come down to the coach smoking/lounge room. And got pissed drunk. So I decided "Hmm...maybe I'll pull an allnighter tonight!" It was a great idea!
At around 1am Brian comes into the lounge. And I am sitting there and I watch him walk around, and look for a seat. Now there were lots of seats left, but naturally he sat beside me ..::big smile::.. After introducing himself ("Hi! I'm Brian, from the Rankin Family!") He asked if we'd like a drink. The man infront of me (Jaime) was 19 and legal drinking age. The girl infront of me (Renee, who turned out to be someone from the original chatroom I used to go to...TheGreatCanadianEwok! Me and her used to diss up the people asking for cyber sex together! And stand up for our great country and fight KKK and all that! So that was another weird thing!) Well, Renee was 16, and smoking, so Brian made the assumption she was 19 as well. He thought I was 19 too...so he never really thought he might be giving alcohol to a minor! HAHA!! Well he went off and got some champagne for us. When he came back and poured it for us I drank a sip of mine and wanted to hurl...it tasted nasty! I'm not one to drink. So I smile and say thank you very much...and being a good girl I drink more (I get drunk after 3 sips and it doesn't taste so bad then!)Then I inform him as my mother comes in the smoking car that I am only 15...he proceeds to apoligize profusly to my mother.
Then Jaime asks to see Brian's private train car. Brian said he wasn't allowed to bring anyone back...yea...right...20 minutes later he turns to me and says "How'd you like to come check out my private car? Seeing the back of the train would be neat huh?" So I automatically say "Sure thing!"
Jaime says "Sure, ya bring the girl back but not me, wink wink!" and Brian was like "Uh, whatever"
So Brian takes me back through the train...we get stopped...or rather I do by a Via staff "Where do you think you're going?" she asks, Brian said "She's with me!" and motioned for me to follow. So as we walk through the train...keep in mind, Brian is drunk and reeks of alcohol (no offence Brian, it's true though!)and out of no where he says/asks "So, you probably have a boyfriend huh?" I was like "Nope." that was the end of that...but I was slightly spooked...LOL!!! (Brian is 35, I'm 15...reason enough?)
So we get to the back, Brian gives me a Via rail certificate and a Via rail not availible in stores book, which he was given as a present for riding the train (I think).
So then we head back.
When we get there he signs the certificate for me (check the link at the bottom of this page for the scanned copy of the autograph)
We continue to hang out until around 5 am...so about 4 hours, 5 hours I dunno. He asked me for my home addy/e-mail addy/phone number/and name (duh), so I wrote it down and gave it to him.
The next morning (ha, more like 1 in the afternoon!) Brian comes back and has a drink with Jaime, and then invites me and Jaime back to his car to watch a movie.
We walk, and walk, and walk...this train is damn long!
Finally we reach the end of the train and sit in the smoking room with the TV in it.
He gets someone, I forget their name, I think Larry, to put Home Alone 3 on, and make him a drink. Jaime gets carded when he asks for a drink. I ask for just a coke...hahaha!
We watch home alone 3, it's actually a very funny movie...better then the first 2!!!
When we go back to the coach smoking car I sit beside this very nice woman named Nancy, and Brian sits across from me beside my mom.
He actually asks me "If I write to you, will you promise to write me back?" and I was like "Sure, you bet!" and my mom was like "Oh yes, she's very good at writing letters" I looked at my mom like she was nuts! I mean, I'm the kid who has lost like um...30 penpals coz I never write them back! But we didn't let Brian know that...hehehe!
Then about 20 minutes later he says "How'd you like to have my phone number so you can call me?" and I said "Sure, I'd love it" so he says alright, get me something to write it down on" and then he mumbles "just don't give it to anyone else" and I say "I'd never do that!"
So then (as if that wasn't enough) He invites us to the Toronto show in September (at least I think he did...he was speaking to my mom) And then says to me "How'd you like to go to the CMA awards (Country Music Awards) In Calgary and be my special guest? I can have you flown out!" when I said I'm scared to fly he said no problem, train or car would work. So I'm supposed to call him when my parents decided whether or not I can go (as if they'd ever say yes? it's during the school year!)
Brian commented to me that he'll be in Toronto this Sunday and maybe he'll call me. My mom not hearing says "Next time you're in Toronto and want a homecooked meal feel free to drop by with the band!" He said "I'll be there Sunday!" (I'm not sure if he meant my house or Toronto...he never elaborated on the subject)
So me and Brian hung out all afternoon...in total I believe we spent like 17 hours hanging out. I could be wrong.
He stops by my seat in coach and says good-bye and that he'll speak to me soon. I smile and shake his hand.
Even when we're offboard and getting our luggage to go home Brian comes over and says good-bye again.
And that is home my train ride went! plus a few hours of having a numb ass...but we wont get into that...
Loff all...Otie$#@
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