Restarting the thought process!

It's been really long since I last wrote about the subway... There has been a number of reasons- busy with work, fun vacation, Irene....but yeah I am back!! I might have procrastinated even tonight to write something but the red on my leg made me log on and write....I know! I know, I sound weird, how can a red on the leg make me think of subwaytalk? Well, the red happened in the subway this morning...No, no it was not a hit or a bang with anything...it was a mosquito....yeah 9:15 am A train to Far Rockaway...near the 59th street station I was bit by the miscreant...the bite was familiar. I was not really expecting it so thought that I am dreaming of trains where mosquito colonies flourish...I was half asleep...but soon near the Chambers Street station when I was wide awake I felt the bite again. This time for real it was a mosquito with a fat belly full of my sweet blood. I know my blood is full of fat since the mosquito could not move and I had the perfect opportunity to kill it in one hit.

Now the story really begins, a lady sitting next to me saw what I did and was shocked to witness it...not the killing but the mosquito. "Oh God, so now they have mosquitoes?" I said "Well....it's ok, mosquitoes can be anywhere and more so it rained so much." She seemed upset with subways but yet she said "yeah they did a good job for the storm but with mosquitoes and rats oh my God! we are in for diseases." I smiled and then recalled... On the week of August 15th I happened happened to spend a day in Chicago. I saw the trains there and was thinking about the GOODS and BADS we have in the NYC subway system.

NY Subways:
GOODS-

• Organized layout
• Underground
• Warm in snowy winter
• Airy (sometimes) in sweaty summer
• Covered protection from rain
• Covered protection from wind
• Trying to improve through expansions

BADS-

• Often going off schedule especially weekends due to constructions
• Often incidents of signal failure
• Fat rats on underground tracks
• 1 mosquito bite (in my 4 years of NYC subway commuting experience)

I never got a chance to commute in the Chicago subway. I saw the trains are all running parallel with the roads and over the ground, the trains look really old and small (Pandora's) boxes attached together. Chicago, famous as windy city does not have a covered station, imagine the plight of commuters who await trains in wind, rain, sun and snow????? Our Metro North Stations are over the ground too but each station has 2-3 heated glass rooms to hold at least 15 people in snowy winter. Even the Beeline bus terminal at White Plains feels marginally comfortable with those ceiling heaters on when it is bone cracking cold. To add on Chicago stations look deserted, creepy and scary and not once did I see a cop patrolling to assure that commuters are safe. I could have probably changed my opinion but I did not have the time to do so. I would love to go back and try to change my perception. Friends in Chicago who may end up reading this ....I do not mean any offense. I loved being there!

Back in the A train this morning, I do not know where the lady got off as I was lost in my thoughts but one thing is for sure Earthquake or Irene, rodents or insects, what ever, the NYC subway still provides some warmth and a level of protection to its commuters...it's our city's pride.

Phew!Though I physically reached New York much later but my thought traveled instantly from Chicago to NYC. I realized that I had developed a queer feeling towards my travel which often adds up to 4-5 hours every day. The feeling was not of love or even liking for sure until I started to search a reason to look forward to my travels and started writing this blog. Then my travel to Chicago and by just looking at the stations their made me feel proud of the subway system we have. I saw the trains, the stations and the tracks....I still compare-

Comparing is bad but sometimes it is important for restarting one's thinking process, it's like rebooting your system and reorganizing your favorites!!!!

Just like that...!

I had suddenly realized that traveling in the subway had become more meaningful than before but I also have a risk of getting obsessed about it and may end up writing unnecessary stuff but few brief incidents happened in the past few days and I witnessed them. I found them funny and interesting but pardon me if you were expecting more than what you got through this post .... :)

This is in the Metro North train at Grand Central Station filled with Wall Street Execs and finance professionals. A couple boards a coach with a baby in a stroller. The mom (most probably) picks up the baby and dad (may be) turns to the people and declares "we have a ticket and we do not have the money to buy a second ticket, please help us buy another ticket by raising that amount. I'll buy the ticket in front of you upstairs." With generosity, people pulled out $1 bills from their pockets and gave him with a smile. He thanked every one and moved on. Those who did not give anything (including me) either kept looking down or looked around and saw the "generous"people saying "poor man he should be helped, they have a baby and can't get a second ticket." The person next to me had been generous too and looked at me as if I missed a great opportunity to wash off my sin collected since the past 3 decades. Soon enough one of them noticed the couple in the next coach and asking for money. A sudden realization hit the generous group as a lightening. One of the ladies exclaimed "Oh My God, he was begging?!" "He is asking for money in each compartment to other people. He is cheating!" The person next to me looked at me again and said "his story seemed so real, man he is a beggar!" now I looked at him as if I had never seen such a creation of God... and wanted to ask him since when did people stop recognizing beggars and who stands being inconsiderate now??

A Comparable Aspect

Sometimes I try to absorb and compare the experienc in a subway with our professional lives...like being in the competition to grab a job especially in the current economic situation. Thinking what am I talking about? Have I really gone insane with the professional (over) work-load??? Na!!! I'll help you think for a while like me...
Take One: A subway coach, packed with people...easy to imagine a rush hour scene in an express train. I am part of that crowd and somehow managed to squeeze myself in to get a leg space. Then through staring pairs of eyes, chuckles filled with frustration and "uffs" and "ohs"...of course me reapeating "excuse me" and "sorry" I reach a spot in the middle of the train to ensure that when it stops at different stations I don't have to move in and out. I don't know what but I could move no further and stood in front of an old lady who was sleeping with her mouth open. It is difficult to get into a comfortable position but better than stepping in and out of a crowded coach with a risk that you might miss it and have to wait for the next one; who knows whether it would be manageable in there or not? Well, back to the comfortable position: now I am standing in front of this old lady who suddenly wakes up, looks at me and obviously she has a questionable look in her eyes. Being me I ask her, "did my bag hit you?"; She replied "No, no, I am waiting for my stop...I don't know if I missed it?" "I can help you when it comes, where do you need to get off?" I asked with concern and she said "59th Street."
A sudden rush of excitement and happiness started flowing within in. Something whispered in my ear..."wow, so after 59th Street, you can relax." No the lady was not stinking, she was not bothering me by her snores. It was the fact that she was getting off at 59th Street. Happily I informed her "oh, it's the next stop!" She smiled back, thanked me, stood up and made move towards the door. I without wasting a moment made myself comfortable on her spot, sat back and exhaled a sigh. I could feel my legs relax and my back flex on the smoothness of the backrest. The next 90 minutes of traveling in the same train were relaxed and I reached my destination the way I wanted to.

Take Two: Replace the subway coach with any professional field packed with eligible candidates. Some through hardships manage a footing and manuever their way through barriers and difficulties to reach a space where they can momentarily relax. Then like the old lady (aforementioned) luck looks at "YOU" and using your natural skills you respond back, appropriately. As a result opportunity develops and immediately "YOU" grab it, appropriately thus making sure that the job is "YOURS." The next few years in that job will help "YOU" in acquiring financial security, some relaxation etc. etc like the last 90 minutes I spent in the train.

Prevailing Thought: When I sat on the spot in the train I looked up and felt sorry for many who were standing around that spot. Probably they had been standing longer than me...they were so close and could have easily made it. I kept sitting because I REALLY NEEDED IT!!!
Isn't it the same with those lucky achievers who happen to get a professional position while the others who had been trying for years yet eagerly await the next suitable opportunity???

Introducing my blog!!!

Hi Readers!

I'll be posting stories from my experience traveling in the subway every day and you are welcome to share your opinion, comments and experience too.

This blog is exclusively for readers who enjoy the experience of the NYC- MTA subway. Those who do not enjoy commuting are welcome too.