Pace yourself, she said, you have three trains tonight and we are sold out. Three times to the North Pole and back. Keep the energy up. And then, during the second trip, power and voice -over audio went out a mile from departure and stayed out all the way to the North Pole and around the North Pole city and back. Hot chocolate was served in the darkness. Music and dance happened in silence – or to self-accompaniment. Sing-along flourished aided by the cellphone light shed on booklets by passengers willing to have a good time and make do with the tools at hand. Thirty-nine passengers and one attentive chef with a costume change in the script did their best to make magic happen in the darkness, at 7,000 feet, on an historic steam engine train turned Polar Express, traversing some of the most beautiful scenery in North America. Nevertheless, just like clockwork, Santa made an appearance. The ringing of silver bells was heard loud and clear to one more round of exuberantly sung Jingle Bells.

But there were some melt-your-heart moments that Saturday night. Dads who sang out loud and clear on all the Christmas songs. Teenagers who participated with a smile. And a beautiful three-year-old boy who wanted to give his silver bell to the chef. She took it. Yes, she did. She received it to her heart. Then she wrapped it back in the fingers of the child and said, “Will you take it home and keep it in a safe place for me?”

That chef rolled into bed bone weary at one hour and thirteen minutes past her usual bedtime. In the distance, she could still hear the train whistle. Others continued to work. Long hours. Railroad hours. Moving train cars. Readying for the morning. She was grateful. A chance to perform. An opportunity to ride the train. To serve and interact with others. To make people of all ages smile.  Well, you can’t beat that for a seasonal side hustle!