Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Full/Empty

~ John W. Howell

A picture of a string with drops of water- the logo for SoCS

 

Here is the philosophical question on one’s outlook on life. “Do you see a glass as half full or half empty?” Right now the cup is entirely empty and a push of the two coffee button should remedy that unfortunate situation. The first sip is a reminder to take a trip with the clock. It is set for November 21, 1925. The location is New York City, and the duration is an hour. The plunger is pulled, and we find ourselves in the lower level of Grand Central Station to witness the inaugural trip of the Orange Blossom Special.

Postcard depiction of the train circa 1939 – Wikipedia

The Orange Blossom Special, a luxury train operated by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad(SAL) to transport winter-weary travelers from New York City to Miami in Florida, began operations.  The first Orange Blossom route used tracks from the Pennsylvania Railroad (from New York to Washington, D.C., the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad from Washington to Richmond, Virginia, and the SAL route from Richmond through Seaboard Air Line Railroad from Richmond via Raleigh, North Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia to West Palm Beach. (Miami service began in 1927).  The trip covered 1,388.7 miles ( 2,234.9 km) and took 35 hours. The service would continue until 1953. Music is playing, and speeches are given. As the conductor calls “All aboard,” our alarm goes off, and we find ourselves on the couch back home.

A text comes in from Linda Hill. It reads.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “full/empty.” Use one, use ’em both, use ’em any way you’d like. Bonus points for getting them both into your post. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/11/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-22-2025/

Full/Empty by John W. Howell © 2025

Was the music The Orange Blossom Special?”

“No, according to Wikipedia, it was written during the maiden run of the new streamlined train. At the Jacksonville Seaboard Railroad Station, Ervin T. Rouse and Robert Russell “Chubby” Wise saw this train. Rouse and Wise wrote the Orange Blossom Special song as a fiddle tune. The tune was first recorded by Ervin and his brother Gordon one year later in New York.”

“Well, it was a good trip back.”

“I think a break was needed.”

“I agree. There is only so much a coffee machine and security shutdown can do.”

“I’ll reserve comment.”

“How about a Voo Doo Ranger?”

“Talk about a potential overdone subject.”

“No way. Uber’s right over there.”

Photo by Resa Mcconaghy

“What’s that?”

“A streetcar. What does it look like?”

“How are we supposed to get up there?”

“That building on the right has an elevator. We punch the button for the station, and it takes us there.”

“Seems easy.”

“One thing, though.”

“Not surprised. What is it?”

“There are a few stops between here and the pub.”

“A few?”

“Well, maybe more than a few.”

“How many more?”

“Thirty stops.”

“That’s going to take hours.”

“Naw. They go quick.”

“We’ve been here five minutes and that thing hasn’t moved.”

“They are waiting for us.”

“I hope there aren’t others that they wait for.”

“Only one group that I know of.”

“Okay. Here it comes. What’s the one?”

“The high school marching band.”

“I give up.”

* * *

When I was in College  62 years  ago, an event took place on November 22, 1963. I am referring to the assassination of John F. Kennedy  in Dallas Texas. Today is the anniversary of that tragic day and it still lives in my memory. Those of us who were a witness to the day will not forget. It is hoped that those who were not will still feel the injustice of such an act.

60 thoughts on “Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Full/Empty”

  2. I think it might be a while on that trolley, John. I hope they have a bar.

    I do remember that day in 1963. I was in elementary school, and we were outside at the time. Our teacher brought us in and explained.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Oh yes, I remember November 22, 1963, clearly. It’s a tragic moment in time that cannot be forgotten. 💙 You’re story is a fun one, John–had to laugh at the marching band. Have a great weekend! 😄

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I can see why people in New York would want to go down to Florida during the winter. The Orange Blossom Special was so popular that Johnny Cash sang about it. The streetcar would be a good ride, and I wonder how it got to the track from up there. Have great weekend, John.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I will never forget that day. Glued to the TV watching all the news. Awful.

    Well, I for one, missed the security shutdown. Those vats of boiling oil always start my day right. To say nothing of the knucklebones tossed into the soundproof room.

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  8. A(nother) beautifully constructed Stream of Consciousness, John. Well done, sir.

    I was in junior high school that November day and will never will forget it. A teacher asked some of the girls why they were crying “for a man like that.” It was the cruelest, most mean thing I’d ever heard in my life up to that point. Shortly thereafter, that same teacher (who will remain nameless) badly broke his leg in a horrible skiing accident…I wasn’t a bit sad that his recovery took over a year.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Very entertaining! And does that street car fly? ‘Cause I don’t see any tracks. It looks like the one I took in New Orleans down Charles Street.

    I was in college on that day in November, walking through the halls of Clapp Laboratory, when someone came out of a room and said the President’s been shot. Everyone was racing back to their dorms to find out what was going on, and I felt my heart sink.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. “The high school band” made me laugh. The reminder of this day’s importance reminded me of the tragic events I’ve witnessed in my own life. They sear themselves into our memories.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Boss, that Uber leaves a lot to be desired, and a marching band ain’t helping things any. I mean, a beauty to look at but like the Ford Pinto my family had back in the ’70’s I wouldn’t step foot inside the thing knowing what I know.

    I had forgotten about today’s tragic anniversary, thank you for reminding me because I have always been a Kennedy person. Not a fan of all their politics but of the family and the legacy of the brothers in a more general sense. And you’re right, the injustice of this act never goes away. Something was stolen from us, all of us.

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  16. I couldn’t sleep the night Kennedy was assassinated. Finally, my Dad came in and said, “Johnny, Kennedy’s probably watching all of this from heaven and laughing his ass off.” I had no trouble getting to sleep then…

    Liked by 1 person

  17. That was fun! It’s been a while since you hit the time travel plunger. Until today I didn’t know The Orange Blossom Special was a real train. That may be the first time a streetcar has shown up as an Uber ride. 😁

    Liked by 1 person

  18. My cousin was born on that day. My Aunt went into labor right after learning the news. My parents, aunts, uncles, their friends would all talk about it. Like I always knew even though I hadn’t been born yet.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. My dad was in Hawaii on the USS Copahee but the other side of the island from the Arizona. He told us the story of how everything was locked down radio communication ceased and they just waited not really knowing what was happening. And they stopped the radio communications to avoid them being hit as well. This is a blurry memory of a story we were told. I hope I got it right. What I do remember with full certainty is daddy was so excited after they announced the end of the war that he jumped up hitting his head on one of the propellers on that big old aircraft carrier. He had the scar that none of us knew about until he was in the hospital during his final days.

        Liked by 1 person

  19. Thanks for the jaunt on the marvelous train, John.
    LOL… Sometimes, if the wind is right, I can hear the high school band practice in the distance. It seems to coincide with me doing the laundry. Since I had no idea that I was close enough to hear them, I couldn’t figure out the somewhat rhythmic yet irregular noise. I kept checking the laundry because I thought the washing machine load was off balance and making the sound. 🤔 That doesn’t bode particularly well for the percussion section… Hugs!

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    1. Ha ha ha. I have Tinnitus and hear weird sounds from fans. I was thinking that your idea on the washer wouldn’t be too far off from my experience. You are right, the percussion section might need work. Sorry for the late reply, but this was in SPAM (why I have no idea)

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  20. A day late and a dollar short! That said, I love that we learn from you during this witty posts of yours.

    I’m not even American, I wasn’t yet born (still in utero, in fact) but I feel that loss and the what-might-have-beens and how would society be today…

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Ahh, thanks John! I always wondered what the Orange Blossom Special was. They should bring it back! It would help alleviate the air transport with less pollution if done right. Many love the train. I prefer it.

    Yay! I’m thrilled you used the streetcar. You tied it in beautifully with the post. And only 30something stops to VooDoo land.

    🚊X 🚆X

    Liked by 1 person

  25. John, I did not know about the Orange Blossom Special, so thank you for this post. I can remember where I was in high school when JFK was assassinated. Everyone was glued to their black and white TVs all weekend. Thank you for the tragic remembrance, because some things should never be forgotten.

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