Hi World…

Good Morning! Beautiful world of bloggers and readers! I have been thinking of you, missing you, silently blogging to you in my head. As you all have read, I started my new job a couple of weeks ago. It’s been a “trip” as they say, I am always up for a “new” experience, a jolt of inspiration, a change in my world, oh Hell! I really needed a job! Lots of bills and expenses to pay pay Pay! So, I took this new position knowing that the training would be in the city. I live about an hour or so from Manhattan. I truly had no idea about the “rat race” the “road rage” or the definition of totally overstressed humans till I started to commute daily. I start my day at 5 (EEEEk)30ish (a.m.) Really? I pull up to my house about 8pm (yes PM…people) and each day I chant I get to eat and sleep and do it all over again tommorrow! I have a totally new found respect for commuters, either via car or mass transit. I tried both, ummm neither one is ideal. I decided to take the train and just relax a titch more. The driving was pretty stressful. Parking was nearly impossible, so I bought a monthly LIRR ticket and a metro card and off I went. A few bumps the first week, basically I was in a whirlwind of lost 95% of the time. I know, I KNOW, I’m a New Yorker, I’m supposed to know the city and boroughs (not), but I was determined to figure it out.  It’s no secret, the city is a maze, if you have a great sense of direction, you’re fine. I don’t, so I admit it! I ask constantly, its reassuring sometimes. I got lost a few times, took the wrong subway line, and just kept my cool and gave myself ample time to get lost and then found. I believe I am starting to get the “hang” of all this hustle and bustle, content that I made the connection and got on the correct train! During all this, I have been blogging in my head, hysterical moments of utter chaos and insanity. I giggle my way through the crowds and temper tantrum grown men, what an experience! I am simply in shock at watching the most professional, miserable, stressed out, abusive and aggressive people that I have encountered daily in my travels. For instance….Noone told ME that you should always “jog” or “run” down escalators and stairs. If you don’t they will smash into you or whip around you. Metro cards, there really is a hidden secret in the “swipe”, I yearn to conquer this, cos you know WHY??? Well, if you happen to not swipe on the first try, you are bound to meet Mr. Ugly behind you. He will HUFF loud, curse louder and get all angry and shit and bolt to the turnstyle next to you and smash through it like he is taking a bullet . (wow). Train jumpers….I describe this best as a pack of Rats going for the golden cheese. The moment the conductor announces the word “dispatcher has requested we wait”. Instantly, I see 100 rats aka commuter’s rise and scurry like rodents on crack off the subway train and race across the platform to run full force into another waiting train. I have clocked this, they sometimes save as much as 1 or 2 or 3 minutes by doing this! (wow) We are all headed to the same destination, again, I find all this comical as I zen out and watch them all frantic and freaked. Lastly, pushers or nudger’s or shover’s. I encounter this mainly in the evening. I am early, patiently waiting for my train to arrive.  Some perch on the edge of platform, my heart races, I see them plunging to their death being hit by an incoming train. The rat pack descends onto the platform, some are “running” to get to the front of train,(position is everything in life!) some are strategically stalking for a 1/2″ inch to nudge in front of you, and some are simply pressing and shoving into your back cos they are like imbeciles, frantic and frankly a tad scary. Again, we are all getting on, all heading in the same direction? I manage to get a coveted seat each day, shrugs, whats their deal? I can’t help but wonder and analyze them. I was told….they actually have their favorite seats! Are you serious? Frankly, I’m just happy, my heel hasn’t gotten caught in the dreaded “gap”, and I am not sucked into the filthy underground! Sheesh! I have reflected on personal peacefulness, personal space,(train seats are really tight, no leg room or space between the seats)I pondered what meds and or blood pressure medications they take, and in the end, is all that “drama” worth it??? I could go on & on, but the bottom line is this. No one smiles, so I do (alot). No one speaks, so…I smile and say good morning or thank you. People have practiced the “I don’t care about nuttin” face so much, it is cemented in 95% of them. Sad, I’d say. So much energy is put into these rituals, I wonder what they have left afterwards. My husband has commuted for 28 years in a row. He has “zen”, he is a music lover and he naps to and fro, good for you honey! Hopefully, he has just a few more years of travel and he can one day relax and not join the rat race daily. I must give a shout out for the weird, sorta could be a serial killer looking starer’s. I feel you, stop staring at me. Oh, the local bums and homeless! I hear you preach, I smell your urine, here’s a dollar, I’m not rich but I commend you for your persistence and consistency in begging! I’m so happy I could share a day in commuting with you today, I hope you enjoyed the show. Stay tuned for more drama and horror in the near future. It’s been a pleasure and an eye opening experience for me. Again lastly, to the hacking, sneezing, snotting NY er’s, Thanks for the horrid upper respiratory infection I woke up with!  Off to the doc I go. Peace Out* for now ~ leelee