Planes, trains, and trains, and trains, and . . .

I wish I could figure out the genius behind "Thomas and Friends".  About a year ago, Ben watch one episode and suddenly wanted nothing more than to watch it again.  Now, not a day goes by that he doesn't play with his toy trains.  He knows every one of their names, knows the "Thomas Song".

The premise is ridiculously simple:  Talking trains being "Very useful", while having their own personal traits usually hurting THEN helping the scenarios as they play out.  They interact and talk to other trains and humans.  

Haha!  OK, even simpler version:  it's a bunch of brightly colored trains, that talk and mimic the personalities of little kids!  As with many/most kids' programs, if you try to find reason or put anything near a deep into it, you've already gone too far, walk away, read a book, delve into social media . . . or sit and learn the lyrics to the damn songs.  

As a guy who has his own passions, interests and hobbies, I'm happy to see Ben enjoying one thing in particular.  If nothing else, it has been helping mom, dad and the grandparents out ten fold when it comes to finding a gift, book, stickers etc. that will tickle him the right way.  This weekend, we plan to head to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, which should make his head swirl, inciting toddler drunkenness, which can lead into toddler grumpiness and moodiness when getting ready to leave, as we saw at a model train expo not all that long ago.    

A guessing game I can't help but pay with myself as I watch him send Thomas around the track is "how long will he be into this?" and, moreover, "what's next?!".  It could be anything, but for now time for a beer as he drifts off to sleep on his Thomas pillow.