11/14/2016
“The Retirement Express”
By Bob Bradshaw
I think of retirement as taking a walk down a long railroad track on sunny day, way out in the country. It’s a scenic walk. I look back, over my shoulder and see the headlight of a freight train far in the distance behind me. I casually say to myself, “No need to worry, I still have plenty of time before the train gets near, plenty of time.” I start walking a little faster. No need to panic, no hurry, got plenty of time before the train catches up to me. The train is getting a closer, I but I can see a tunnel up ahead, and I can see a light at the other end. Behind me, I still see the light of the train. It is a little closer, but still not, too close. I make it into the tunnel, but the train is a lot closer than I thought. Now I’m in the tunnel, I run. I am in a panic. What can I do? I can’t turn back and there is no room to get off the track inside the tunnel. The only way out is for me is to beat the train to the end before it catches me. Inside the tunnel it is pitch black, the only light is at the end of the tunnel. What can I do? I run as fast, and as, hard as I can. The train is right behind me now, the whistle is blowing, the rails are shaking and I cry, I pray. I am running out of time. I’m in a full blown panic. My heart is racing and the blood is pounding in my head. Just as I reach the end of the tunnel the large monster train catches up with me! The light is blinding, the noise is overpowering. Finally my time has run out. What am I going to do now? Maybe I should have paid more attention while I had time.
That train is “The Retirement Express.”