Tequila Train

My eyes open. I'm staring at the ceiling of a train. I don't know how I got here, and I certainly don't have a ticket.

I stand up to look, and I see many people around me. They are dancing and cheering, drinking and eating. They are happy.

I must be on some kind of party train. I walk down the aisle and into the next cart. Here I see people shoveling coal into fire. The coal burns and they add more. They must be powering the train.

In the next car, there are many people who aren't cheering or drinking, but are eating. They seem gloomy. They slouch and stumble around. The lights are dimmer here.

This train has got something to it, but what?

I didn't buy a ticket. I go to the gloomy people and ask them where I am.

"Your guess is as good as mine. We ponder our meaning like you. We sit through the trouble and focus on tomorrow. We excite for when the train stops, when the music from those next door will halt, and when the bumps of the track will seise."

I ask the workers where I am.

"Your guess is as good as mine. We just work all night and day, and perhaps we can eventually retire. We throw the coal into the fire and it burns. We aren't sure where it goes or what happens after, but we continue working."

I ask the partiers. "Well, we're on the party train! We are on a collision course with death and we sure aren't slowing down. So grab a drink and dance!"

I go back to the workers, to the gloomers, and into the next cart. There are only a few people in here. I ask them the same.

"We aren't really sure where we are. But the train is a workhorse. We have many people working to keep the systems online. Enjoy the ride or shovel coal. But don't burden those who bought a ticket with your problems."

"The people who bought a ticket?"

"No one bought a ticket. No one asks to be born."

I climb out the window of the train and then on top. We're running through a valley next to a river. The river is full of white water and moving just as fast as us. I see some people throw themselves out the window of the train into the river. They keep pace with the train. There's no way out.

In front of the train, it seems like the railway goes on forever. But I know it won't. It can't. Eventually, we'll run out of coal or track.

So I go back inside to party.

I'm on a train, that I didn't ask to be on. But here we are partying our time away because we have no idea what's going on. None of us do.

So we enjoy ourselves. Let us ride until we can't. We're hurdling through the world at uncontrollable speeds. Why would I dare stop the train? Why should I even consider doing that? Who am I to even try?

The water doesn't stop. Even the rocks can't halt it. Or the beavers building dams.

The flow of life is too powerful for us. When the train stops, which I'm sure it will someday, it'll be sudden and dramatic! Death comes quickly to those who aren't watching it.

Every day I'm on this train I see the ones who work and those that gloom. No one is asking them to be like that. If they stopped working the train would go on. If they stopped glooming life would continue.

I don't think there is anything special here, I just know I'm not the one in control.

So pour me another drink and let's hit the dancefloor. The fireworks are shooting and the confetti popping. We've only got one chance at this ride, so let's make sure we're here for it.