Caleb and I have been commuting to Boston together for a week or two now. Originally Megan and I split the duties (she would take him in the morning and I would bring him home) but it is more efficient if I take him both ways. My office is about a half a mile from his preschool (I’m in the Financial District and he’s in the North End), and our train (the Lowell commuter rail) arrives at and departs from North Station, which is just under a half mile from Caleb’s preschool. The ride is usually right around 12 minutes and I am usually at work within 45 minutes of leaving our house.

So…we are doing a lot of walking, and barring the times when the wind and temperature make things pretty uncomfortable, it is a lot of fun. Caleb enjoys it and the conductors on the train recognize him now (maybe it has something to do with his distinctive bright blue winter jacket and fleece hat with the frizzies on it…). One of them gave him an expired ticket once (I show a monthly pass each time I ride — Caleb gets to ride free) and they regularly punch it for Caleb, pretending that it is a valid ticket. It is very sweet.

And it is also pretty neat to see all of the other commuters smile at him rather than hold the far more prevalent empty stare of the daily grind.