all aboard the Polar Express!!!!!!

          I’m in my second childhood and loving it!!!

          Here I am dressing up in bright reds and white with blinking lights and a “Cat in the Hat” type hat.       

          Not bad for a soon-to-be 80 year old.

          And I’m having fun….cause I’m riding the Cuyahoga Valley Polar Express and experiencing the laughter and bright shining eyes of real kids as they interact with us elves on the way to the North Pole.

          And what a sight awaits them when we arrive (Peninsula take a bow, you deserve every accolade) ……sparkling lights and elves galore…dressed as reindeers, snowmen, gingerbread men and just folks in red and green elf costumes.

          On the way to the North Pole, we elves (five to a car) entertain the kids with a Christmas story and songs. The Chief Elf of each car is the reader and while she or he reads to the car, two of her assistants are roaming about and helping out with parts of the story.

          Meanwhile, two other elves are pouring hot coca and then, when the story ends, they pass out the drinks along with cookies.

          After visiting the North Pole, the train heads back to Akron and that’s when Santa appears and visits with the passengers.

          They can have their picture taken with him and tell him their Christmas list. One little boy had his list all ready in an envelope which he gave to Santa.

          And then we arrive in Akron, and the fairy tale ride ends.

          Now, you can imagine how many folks it takes to make this happy time happen for the kids. All the Elves and the trainmen are volunteers.

And there’s a need for many of them.

          So if you want to volunteer next year, contact the Cuyahoga Valley National Park headquarters and feel like you’re a kid again!!