On Polar Express we teach a Campbell’s Condensed version of the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas.” We ask the audience to tells us what the gift of each day is. If they don’t know we give them hints so they can figure it out and tell us what it is. 

Last night we had 3 very enthusiastic and fun audiences on the VIP car. On the 8:00 run in the smaller section of the VIP Parlor car there was a grandma, daughter and 4 granddaughters and two other families of 3 riding with us. Starlight and I started teaching the song with the arm and hand movements we created. We asked if anyone knew what the gift was on the third day of Christmas. This one grandmother shouts out, “3 Cornish Game Hens!” There was a slight pause and grandma and everyone else started laughing, not at her, but with her. You see, she realized she had said, “Cornish Game Hens” when she had really meant to say “Three French Hens.” She was a great sport and we played along with it. So, when we sang the song one time through we changed the lyrics for the third day to “Three French Cornish Game Hens.” Grandma was laughing so hard she could not finish the song with us.

As this group was disembarking the train Grandma gave me a great big hug and told me how much she and her family had enjoyed themselves. This family of 5 had driven 3 hours from Cedarville, CA to ride the Polar Express for the very first time and we had made it a very memorable trip for them.

Sometimes it’s hard to know if your performance touched someone or not. You just have to hold on to your faith and belief in yourself that you did. This grandma was not the only grandma who gave me a hug as she left. Another grandma from the same run did also. Hugs and thanks from your audience are better than any monetary gift you can receive from your audience. Thank you Lord for giving me the spirit of the season last night on “The Polar Express.”