All aboard

Yesterday I made my third NYC train trip since my February separation from my job. I have to say it's a well-run railroad and a good way to get into the city from Hooterville (up here). Sometimes my wife and I venture into town and often drive and that's usually on a weekend so I'm not counting those trips.

After thirty years of train travel into NYC there were always certain times, days and seasons that were better than others (not that a working guy had a choice)...Some trains times were better than others. On holidays you had to know which train to take or avoid. When you got to the train you had to know the best place to sit - which car to sit in - which car had the bathroom (God forbid). You always had to watch to see if a group of kids/students were taking a trip into the city then the train became like prom night.. The noise level was significant. The other mainstay in annoyances were the cell phone calls. There are 2 types of people - those who use their cell phone politely (quietly and quickly) and those who have NO FREAKIN concern for anyone hearing there inane business. These calls go on forever. That is why, I determined, you never go anywhere - like a train - without an iPod..You have to drown them out with music - ANY music.

I had lots of useless data which I applied to my commute. I knew when I passed on this info I was judged as a neurotic. I think I'd have to agree with that but it's just part of me. It resurfaced during yesterday's trip as I got on a mid-morning local train on (drumroll) "matinee" day - Wednesday. This is the day the Broadway shows have 1 pm starts and discounted pricing. We used to call it blue hair Wednesday because all the elderly and retired folks were heading in to go see "MAME". Those old folks are usually OK except on the ride back where they are all pumped up about their experience. I guess I may fit more into that category now - grey haired, non-regular commuter (non regular??)

The suburban commuter train, to me, is like a vacation in Aruba compared to taking the subway. Yes, the subway is a very efficient way to navigate through the city but there's just something so annoying (maybe this is because I just saw the remake of Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 or that I waited yesterday about 15 minutes for the #6 local on a steaming hot, crowded platform). I used to in my earlier commuting years have to take the subway everyday. I actually MOVED from Long Island to here to cut out that need when I got into the city - it was well worth it. So perhaps I just wasn't used to subway riding. For one multi-week period I had to take the subway - during rush hour - to Wall Street. I was very grateful when that ended. I first started going down with a group of co-workers and then split off from them so I could go it alone. I actually left very early to avoid the rush hour crowd which eased the trauma for me. Trauma = train stops and loses lights. There's something so phobic about a stuck subway train - just like in that Seinfeld episode where Elaine is silently screaming as her train stops and the lights are out. Not even an iPod would have helped her.