Waiting at the railroad crossing can be fun, especially on a foggy night. Lights are out of focus, disarranged. If you peek through half-closed eyes and move your head side to side you see swaying rays of color. That's amusing. Whether in a happy or a dreary mood, it makes you smile.
The train comes. It is very long and loud. It pulls all sorts of rail cars, flat, square, and round. Each meant for a different final destination, they’re connected for the moment, rushing by you in one unquestionable line. One time I saw a train carrying tanks. That train had no other load. But that was only once.
You wait the train out, all the while playing with the rays of color. Then it’s your turn to go into the darkness waiting on the other side of the crossing, so it’s time to open your eyes. It feels nice to know that the wait time wasn’t wasted. And so you wink at the rays of color one last time and cross the rails feeling like you’re leaving the drive-through prayer lane for the next guy who's sure to arrive.