All I wanted when I headed to the Red Line today was $2.25 ride up to Lincoln Park so I could blow a gift card at West Elm. What I got, however, far exceeded my public transportation hopes and dreams:
Yes, that’s right! It was the 2010 CTA Holiday Train! I saw it last year and was so dazzled by the flashing lights that I forgot to get on. But this year, this was the train I had to take to get to my destination! I couldn’t believe my luck- today is only the 2nd day the Holiday Train has been running!
The entire six-car train was decked out, inside AND out. Lights, ribbon, garland and look! The seats were even festive:
See the excitement on that girl’s face?
Attention to detail was most certainly paid. Instead of the usual ads for random online colleges or Hall’s Cough Drops, the Holiday Train stuck to North Pole-specific advertisements.
This Sunday afternoon ride o’ mine wasn’t just aesthetically pleasing; the train also smelled like cinnamon and pine needles and Christmas carols were blaring over the sound system! Usually, the el kinda smells like pee and the only thing coming over the sound system is a cranky CTA employee telling me that my “train has been delayed momentarily”. The Holiday Train is like Christmas on steroids- so much Christmas in such a small space for such a short (I only rode it for 4 stops) period of time. Aka, the Holiday Train is glorious and perfect and the best thing that could have possibly happened to me today.
Oh and how about this golden nugget?
The Holiday Train has humor. I dig it.
The Holiday Train really pushed me over the edge in my excitement for Christmas. When I called my mom to tell her, opening the conversation with a breathless, “The best thing in the world just happened to me!”, I am pretty sure she thought I was going to tell her I got engaged or a promotion or adopted a kid or something. Nope, Mama G- just a little holiday cheer. So thank you, Chicago Transit Authority, for making my day and putting enthusiasm of epic proportions into your modes of public transportation. Chicago is a better place because of it.