The Morrisons: All Aboard the Polar Express!

This is by far our best Christmas season yet. I am seeing daily the magic of this holiday through the eyes of a four year old and it is awe-inspiring and filled with wonder. We just took a much anticipated trip to Bryson City to board the Polar Express for the North Pole. To say that Blan was excited is the understatement of the year. He didn't even mind the car ride to the far western part of NC. In fact, he kept us entertained during the long drive with his puzzling Christmas riddles, such as "When you need sumpin', then you get sumpin'. If you ask for it, then you might get it. Santa rides in it and he brings the toys in it. Can you guess what it is?" He had us in stitches for the better part of the drive. If you've never been to Bryson City, it is a charming little town that comes alive at Christmas. There is a large model train museum there that is pretty impressive and, of course, there is the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.

We browsed around enjoying the museum. Blan donned his pajamas and we waited outside patiently in the cold mountain mist to board our passenger car. Blan was a bit disappointed when he realized that the Polar Express was misrepresented by a diesel engine and wasn't an actual steam engine. But, he quickly got over it once we were on board. We were served hot chocolate and chocolate covered Santas as we read together the story and sang Christmas carols and watched the lights of the "North Pole" go by. The highlight was Santa boarding the train. My child has a good, healthy fear of the big man, but we had taken the time to write out a letter to Santa and nothing, not even a possible nightmare spurred by his close proximity, was going to keep Blan from giving him that letter with his wish list. We even got a picture, albeit a blurry one, of them with their arms around each other! Santa autographed Blan's copy of The Polar Express and then went on his merry way. It was truly magical and an experience I know we will all remember.