Twain on the train

'More than just a mode of transportation; it was a pilgrimage of the soul'

I often spy Amtrak’s Zephyr rolling in and out of Creston, and whenever I do, I give the passengers a little wave—a quick flap of the arm or a gentle lift of the finger from the steering wheel. It’s a brief salute that says, “I see you, fellow humans, and I acknowledge your existence in this vast expanse.” There’s a casualness to it, but deep down there…