SUPER CHIEF

In 1971, I traveled by train from Los Angeles to Boston. It all happened rather suddenly, so I had no time to prepare. I got on the train without a book or magazine. Once we were moving, I turned my head and asked the woman behind me if she happened to have anything to read. She offered me a bible......I counted telephone poles. I did have a pill, maybe a valium, which I took after not having slept in a couple days and right after I swallowed it, some dude decided to get chummy and make conversation (something that had not occurred up 'til that moment). He blabbed and blabbed and kept me awake. All in all, this wasn't going well. When I finally got to Boston, friends picked me up, but I was forced to go to the movies with them. I saw "Women In Love."

This is the souvenir I have from that trip, a placemat from the dining car. It's adorable and who knows, it may have value? I have no idea if it's rare or not, but of course for me, it's priceless.