I came to the conclusion today that there's just something about a subway ride that's life-draining. Maybe it's that such a ride takes you under the ground, and away from the life-giving energy of the sun; that it entombs you in a long box that's, if not exactly, at least closely proportionate in size to a coffin; that it fills that box with people who would rather be elsewhere; that those people already have precious little reserves of energy - especially if it's the evening commute.
It never fails to amaze me just how lifeless people seem when they're crammed onto a subway train. Nary a smile to be had anywhere. Of course, there are the occasional exceptions - a couple of kids, or maybe a man and woman in love, who chatter away and smile at each other - but for the most part, it seems that, even when you're with a group of people, riding the subway train seems to be a solitary experience. And I wonder why that is?
I came to this conclusion when I was getting off the train on the way home tonight. Just the thought of climbing up the stairs and reaching street level just made me so much happier! I didn't feel drained until I realized how happy I was to get the hell out from under the ground! Granted, the train ride took extra long tonight - the train kept stopping and sitting in tunnels either because other trains were crossing its path, or just to slow down and stay on schedule, or to accommodate trains that were moving slowly ahead of it on the same track. There was this Asian kid sitting next to me on the train, and almost as soon as he sat down, he started nodding off - and I don't just mean a little occasional dip of the head... he was totally flopping forward, and to the right, and to the left (practically into my lap) depending on the motion of the train. I wanted to tell him that he wasn't allowed to sleep on me unless he at least bought me dinner, first. I kept that witticism to myself, lest he take it the wrong way.
Amy's coming back to the city tomorrow, and I've agreed to bring her car to Brooklyn and park it over here for the weekend. Am I a fool, or what?!? Not quite sure what I've gotten myself into, but I'm sure we're gonna end up with a ticket at some point... I just hope I manage not to get her towed!
By the way, I was flipping through some old journal entries yesterday and found this fabulous line by Amy Hartman: "I'm not sure I know the difference between fate and punishment."
Sometimes, I think that woman is a genius.
It never fails to amaze me just how lifeless people seem when they're crammed onto a subway train. Nary a smile to be had anywhere. Of course, there are the occasional exceptions - a couple of kids, or maybe a man and woman in love, who chatter away and smile at each other - but for the most part, it seems that, even when you're with a group of people, riding the subway train seems to be a solitary experience. And I wonder why that is?
I came to this conclusion when I was getting off the train on the way home tonight. Just the thought of climbing up the stairs and reaching street level just made me so much happier! I didn't feel drained until I realized how happy I was to get the hell out from under the ground! Granted, the train ride took extra long tonight - the train kept stopping and sitting in tunnels either because other trains were crossing its path, or just to slow down and stay on schedule, or to accommodate trains that were moving slowly ahead of it on the same track. There was this Asian kid sitting next to me on the train, and almost as soon as he sat down, he started nodding off - and I don't just mean a little occasional dip of the head... he was totally flopping forward, and to the right, and to the left (practically into my lap) depending on the motion of the train. I wanted to tell him that he wasn't allowed to sleep on me unless he at least bought me dinner, first. I kept that witticism to myself, lest he take it the wrong way.
Amy's coming back to the city tomorrow, and I've agreed to bring her car to Brooklyn and park it over here for the weekend. Am I a fool, or what?!? Not quite sure what I've gotten myself into, but I'm sure we're gonna end up with a ticket at some point... I just hope I manage not to get her towed!
By the way, I was flipping through some old journal entries yesterday and found this fabulous line by Amy Hartman: "I'm not sure I know the difference between fate and punishment."
Sometimes, I think that woman is a genius.
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