Trapped in the dentist's chair ... here's where I went while he was drilling

I was in the dentist’s chair for a little more than 2 hours this morning. I hate getting numbing shots, cotton in my cheeks, and anyone fiddling around in my mouth. They always say to go to your happy place when you’re in a situation like this. So I gave that a try. It’s hard to mentally transport yourself elsewhere when something like this is happening (echoes of Woody Allen’s famous line about dying: “I don’t mind doing it if I have to, but I’d rather not be there when it happens”), but sometimes it’s mind over matter, or in this case, mind over tooth No. 23.

 My first destination was an open Dutch door on a coach in Tennessee in the fall of 1979. I was riding one of the excursions that Southern Railway put together behind Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 No. 610 in its brief excursion career. The location is somewhere between Rockwood and Chattanooga on the CNO&TP. The speed: About 55 mph. The sight of that long-legged oil-burning Texan eating up those miles, the wind in my face, and, no cinders is etched into my memory as one of those exhilarating days of youth when the entire world is yours to explore. A giant locomotive like that at speed is enough to convince you that all you need is a good train ride.

 My next mind hop surprised me: I skipped InnoTrans, the gigantic railroad trade and technology show in Berlin, this year, but I was right back there in 2014 at the main railway station. The Hauptbahnhof is a gorgeous multi-level glass station that buzzes with trains and retail, a great place to pick up groceries, enjoy a meal, or just ride or watch trains. The top deck where east-west trains is long and curving, and you never know what you might find … the catch of the last visit with a specially-painted unit for a Polish soccer team. The tension of an ICE train operator as he waits for his cue to depart, the hustle of the passengers, and the constant coming and going of sleek, modern, well-patronized passenger trains is a joy to watch as it unfolds in the late afternoon and early evening.

 I’d like to say that this interlude prompted by a visit to the dentist was welcomed. But I’d just as soon have these pleasant recollections elsewhere. As I write this, my fat lip is going down, and I’m starting to sense a little pain in my jaw. Maybe it’s time to zone out again … where shall I go this time? So many good memories ….