Tales from the Subway

Yesterday I had my first truly "New York" moment on the subway. First, you have to understand that it's been in the 90s here with a heat index of near 100. Add to that being underground and with the heat that the trains themselves give off, you feel like you're standing at the gates of hell. So, I get on at my first stop and the A/C isn't working on the train. I contemplate getting off or switching cars but I only have to go 4 stops and then I transfer so I decide to stick it out. I get off at my transfer point and go down another level to catch the next train. And I had just missed it. Normally this wouldn't be so bad but remember it's 1,000 degrees.

So the next train comes about 10 minutes later and we all pile on, relieved to be in the A/C once again, only to hear the conductor say that there is a stalled train up ahead and that the train we were on would be running over a different line in order to avoid it. Everybody groaned and most of us piled back off the train. By this time I'm getting really irritable. I'm hot, I'm hungry, I'm tired and I still have to go home and walk the dog. After another 10 minutes the next train arrived. I'd already decided I was getting on that one no matter where it was going. Everyone crammed in, only to hear the same announcement and almost everyone piled back out. I stayed put. This train was going the long way to Brooklyn but would get me where I needed to go.

The train wasn't too crowded and so there were plenty of empty seats but this guy comes and sits right between myself and another man. I chalked it up to him being a "visitor" (he didn't look like a New Yawker) and tried to keep from touching him. I hate touching people on the train. Several stops later the guy next to him got off the train. A normal person would have moved over leaving space between us. This guy stayed put and his leg kept touching mine. I seriously considered getting up and moving to the empty row across from me. Finally, we stopped and the guy got off the train. I heaved a huge sigh of relief, but as I looked up and he was getting back on. Suddenly he looked at me raised his eyebrows and winked. I was torn between laughing outloud and being totally creeped out. He just kept leering at me from where he was standing and I was forced to figure out how to get off the train without having to squeeze by him.

A normally pleasant 30 minute trip was turned into the 1 hour and 15 minute trip from Hades.

Coming Up

It's been a crazy day and so I didn't get our biblical character insight posted today and we have church tonight. I'll make sure to have it up tomorrow instead. Have a great night everyone!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!