Planes, Trains and Wheelchairs

Mom came for a visit this summer. It was the first time she had been out here for a couple of years. Like a lot of people getting ready for their 60th high school reunion, age is starting to catch up with Mom. In her case, it's a mobility problem. There are all sorts of long medical terms for her problem. But, basically, her joints are wearing out.

For years, I've had to listen to tall tales about the long, cold walks she had to take to the one-room country school house when she was young. When she got older, she did get a pony to ride to school, but early on it was walk, walk, walk. I now get to exact some revenge by teasing her that she should have gotten the pony earlier and saved all that wear and tear on her joints.

Mom has spent the past two years transforming herself into the bionic woman. So far, she has upgraded one hip. But, this fall, she is going to have both knees done. In the meantime, she doesn't walk as good as she used to and sometimes uses a wheelchair for long distance travel.

Now, don't go feeling sorry for her. She hasn't let this mobility thing affect her too much. Okay, she's only playing golf in one league, instead of three, this summer. So, she may not mall-walk anymore, but she isn't sitting at home watching the home shopping channels either. Vacations? Hasn't hurt much there. For vacations, she mostly drives or flies. A few times, she has taken boats, busses, or trains.

So, when she said that she was coming out, I thought we should take a nice leisurely vacation that wouldn't require a lot of walking, but give her a lot of sightseeing opportunities. How about a train trip to meet her great-grandson?

That's how we found ourselves on Amtrak's Coast Starlight. The Coast Starlight runs daily from Los Angeles to Seattle and takes about 2 days. It runs through some of the most beautiful scenery that you can find. Mom and I had already taken the southern part of the trip before when we can back from visiting family in Southern California. This time we started in Oakland.

Because of Mom's mobility problem, we decided that riding in coach wasn't a good idea. That would be a lot of late night trips down dark (not to mention rocking) corridors and stairwells to the bathroom. I could fall down and, then, who would push Mom's wheelchair? So, we got a room. We discovered that there are 3 classes of rooms - small, smaller and really, really small. Because Mom uses a wheelchair sometimes, we were offered one of the "rooms for travelers with special needs". It was the whole width of the train car and had its own toilet. But, it still had the same narrow upper bunk and you don't have to be Karnak to know who was crawling up there to sleep!

One of the great things about getting a sleeping car, besides getting to sleep lying down, is that you get a special club car and all of your meals are included. This was the first time I'd ever eaten in the dining car. Having only dined in the snack car before, I didn't know what to expect. Pleasant surprise - it was really good. On the way up, I had one of the best steaks I've had in years.

If you ever get the chance to take the Coast Starlight, be sure to eat the Chocolate Truffle Cake (I did 3 times). Until then, try this:

Steak with Blue Cheese Sauce

2 - 8 ounce steaks
2 strips bacon -- sliced 1/4" strips
1/4 cup red onion -- finely chopped
1 tablespoon brandy
2 ounces blue cheese -- crumbled
1/3 cup cream
salt -- to taste
pepper -- to taste

Cook steaks as you usually do. While steaks are cooking, fry bacon strips until crisp. Keep bacon grease in pan, but remove fried strips to a paper towel. Add red onion and briefly sauté. Carefully add brandy. Add blue cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. Add cream. Stir until fully blended. Simmer until reduced by 1/3 or until desired thickness is obtained. Add fried bacon strips, and season with salt and pepper. Pour over cooked steaks.

Baked Potato/Herbed Butter

2 medium baking potatoes
2 tablespoons butter -- softened
pinch dried thyme
pinch garlic powder
pinch dried marjoram
salt -- to taste
pepper -- to taste

Wash and oil the skin of the potatoes. Poke about 5 or 6 holes into each potato with a knife or fork. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until done (approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour). While potatoes are baking, blend thyme, garlic powder, and marjoram into the butter. When potatoes are done, slit open and drop 1/2 of butter mixture into each. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Sautéd Vegetables

10 broccoli flowerettes
1/2 medium onion -- coarsely chopped
1/2 small red bell pepper -- coarsely chopped
1/2 small zucchini -- sliced 1/4" thick
1/2 small yellow squash -- sliced 1/4" thick
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add onion, zucchini, and yellow squash. Sauté until onion is translucent. Add broccoli and red bell pepper. Sauté for 1 minute. Add Worcestershire sauce. Place a cover on the skillet. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Return to heat and sauté for 1 minute.