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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalnoise/1352407570/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2563" title="north pole" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/north-pole-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Did I build up Day 74 or what?  :-)

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In preparation for Day 74, Laney insisted that I <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/12/01/day-64-christmas-pjs-to-be-continuedworn-on-day-74/" target="_blank"><strong>buy Christmas PJs</strong></a>.  She then assigned me the <a><strong>homework of watching the movie <em>The Polar Express</em></strong></a><strong><em>. </em></strong>Worried that I was less than jazzed by the movie, she brought in the book and I staged a <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/12/10/day-73-storytime-in-corporate-america/" target="_blank"><strong>Corporate America Storytime</strong></a>.  (I forgot to mention the other day that the publisher of the book is a competitor.  Does this mean that I committed corporate treason?? Oops!)

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And then...

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Day 74 arrived.  It's probably pretty obvious by now, but three guesses as to what Day 74 entailed.

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<span style="color: #008000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>ALL ABOARD THE POLAR EXPRESS!!!</strong></span></span>

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Way up north in my fair state, <a href="http://www.thetrain.com/polar-express-5679.html" target="_blank"><strong>The Polar Express</strong></a> takes children and children-at-heart to the North Pole every December.  I have always wanted to go.  Weekend trips sell out nearly a year in advance!  I'm organized, but not <em>that </em>organized.

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About a month ago, Laney asked me if I wanted to go with her and her boys on a Wednesday.  I wasn't able to take the day off from work.

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Laney doesn't take "no" for an answer.  The train was scheduled to depart at 6:30 p.m.  We would start work before the crack of dawn, wrap it up early afternoon and leave for The Polar Express around 2 p.m.

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I looked at Laney as though she was smoking something funny.

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<span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Me:</strong> </span>"Laney, isn't Williams more than 3.5 hours away?"

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<span style="color: #008000;"><strong>Laney</strong>,</span> still not taking "no" for an answer:  "Yes, we'll make it there in time.  The train ride is an hour.  We'll then get fast food and head home.  We'll be snuggled in our beds before midnight."

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<span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Can I have some of that funky stuff that you're smoking?

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<span style="color: #008000;"><strong>Laney:</strong></span> We'll make it to the North Pole and back in 9 hours or less.  You need to do it for the blog.

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<em>Crap!</em> All my friends pull the blog card now whenever they want me to do something.

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<span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Sign me up.

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After much anticipation, Day 74 arrived.  Laney and I finished work early and started schlepping up north with her 2 kids and tons o' snacks.  We conveniently ignored all healthy snacks and solely concentrated on the junk food.  I am not sure if you are aware, but once you cross the Santa Barrier on your way to the North Pole, calories don't count.

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Surprisingly for me, we reached our destination with about an hour to spare.  We used our time wisely and scouted out drive-thrus for more junk food.  Hey -- when you're getting in touch with your inner child, you either go big or go home.

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And then....there it was.  The Polar Express.

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/PC080187.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2564" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/PC080187-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/PC080190.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2566" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/PC080190-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>

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Let the fun begin!  As we zipped through the dark forest on our way to the North Pole, we sipped hot cocoa, munched on cookies, watched and listened as the crew read us the book of <em>The Polar Express</em>, and sang Christmas carols.  Oh -- and unless you're a Scrooge, <em>everyone</em> wears their PJs.

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We then made a pit stop in the North Pole to pick up some precious cargo.

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/PC080204.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2565" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/PC080204-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

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Santa handed out bells to the children.  Do you know the story behind the bell in <em>The Polar Express</em>?

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"At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them.  Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound.  Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe."

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The bell still rings for me.  Can you hear it?