Come along with me, let's walk and begin the 'Commute'.
First you must prepare for battle. Mentally put on your shield, your helmet and make sure your sword is not dull. Stand tall and hold your head up smiling will get you killed.
The walk to the first train is a short one, thanks to my new abode. The wait however can be short or quite long depending on how well the NJT lights are working that particular day. This is the only train you will find a seat on, take one quickly and don't look at anyone, this train harbors the mean spirited, you will see most of them at the end of the day when we return. They will be meaner.
Five stops later and a packed train gets us to Secaucus which is a maze of humans shuffling along. Zombies look livelier. The departure/arrival signs are old, the machines that collect payment and ticket are new. The workers stand in the way, no one knows why. Just follow the mass, they are all going to NY. Always follow the mass. Go up two flights, turn a couple of times, don't slow down you will be stampeded. Go down two flights and stand in the middle of the platform. You will not know until the last minute whether the train will arrive on the left or the right. You WILL not get a seat, don't even try, your goal is to get ON that train.
When the train arrives don't worry if you don't know where to go, it doesn't matter. The MASS push you along, you are squeezed within strangers whether you want to or not. A husband wishes they could get that close to you at least once a week. Don't stand still in the train, find a spot. One against a wall or lean in a corner. DO NOT STAND IN THE MIDDLE. The perverts and the angry ones are always there, touching as if by accident....it's not accident. There will be shoving as if by a force unseen. Keep your head down, don't look at anyone. It will just start a feud. Just rest while standing our trip is nearly half over.
When the train arrives NY PENN Station don't look left or right, just aim your eyes on the train door. No need to concentrate on where you are going, the herd will shove and trap you to the one direction...the escalator. If you are lucky it will go quickly with minimal body damage. Now brace yourself, we will have to go up another flight of stairs and walk a long corridor with hundreds of people. The main exit is another flight, take them quickly or you'll be trampled. Once at the top move quickly to the left and from there it is two blocks to the subway. When we cross the street just hurry and yes...people will intentionally aim for you from the opposite direction. Just push through.
There! You see, we made it to the subway. Don't give the peddlers money or you'll go broke in a couple of days. All kinds are in there from the mother with the baby asking for milk money, the man with expensive jeans and sneakers saying he has been out of work for a year (he's been saying it for 3years) to the singers and dancers putting on a 10 second show. Just look down. Try to get a seat but don't bank on one. It doesn't matter if you're in front of the train door, once it opens people will push you out of their way. Everyone thinks the same. I MUST GET A SEAT. Especially those on the train for one stop, those are the worst, they will literally shove you over. It's five stops to our exit, just look down and don't use any electronics. I have seen someone punched in the face for their device.
Here we are! Now we only have to walk 10 blocks to reach work. The upper east side is another world. Crossing the street here is like the Spartans at the start of battle. You must reach the corner through dog walkers, nannies and other people getting to work. Just look ahead and aim for speed. Once at the corner there will be a stare down. Those on the other side are warning you with looks that they intend to trample you, you must stare back viciously, if you are lucky they fear you more then you fear them and once in the middle of the street they will move out of the way. You won't be able to walk around as it will be like a wall of people. GOOD LUCK!
WAIT! There is a particular corner where a female cop directs traffic. Watch her closely as she only cares about the cars, there have been many near misses with people crossing while paying attention only to the light. Watch her as well.
LOOK! We are almost there! The gates to the campus!
Well? I hope you fared well. Now let's sit at our desk and take deep breathes to calm ourselves, our day has only just begun. Happy 9AM, we get to do that commute all over again at 5 and the people are tired and even meaner.
Thanks for sharing that commute with me. How did you like it?
First you must prepare for battle. Mentally put on your shield, your helmet and make sure your sword is not dull. Stand tall and hold your head up smiling will get you killed.
The walk to the first train is a short one, thanks to my new abode. The wait however can be short or quite long depending on how well the NJT lights are working that particular day. This is the only train you will find a seat on, take one quickly and don't look at anyone, this train harbors the mean spirited, you will see most of them at the end of the day when we return. They will be meaner.
Five stops later and a packed train gets us to Secaucus which is a maze of humans shuffling along. Zombies look livelier. The departure/arrival signs are old, the machines that collect payment and ticket are new. The workers stand in the way, no one knows why. Just follow the mass, they are all going to NY. Always follow the mass. Go up two flights, turn a couple of times, don't slow down you will be stampeded. Go down two flights and stand in the middle of the platform. You will not know until the last minute whether the train will arrive on the left or the right. You WILL not get a seat, don't even try, your goal is to get ON that train.
When the train arrives don't worry if you don't know where to go, it doesn't matter. The MASS push you along, you are squeezed within strangers whether you want to or not. A husband wishes they could get that close to you at least once a week. Don't stand still in the train, find a spot. One against a wall or lean in a corner. DO NOT STAND IN THE MIDDLE. The perverts and the angry ones are always there, touching as if by accident....it's not accident. There will be shoving as if by a force unseen. Keep your head down, don't look at anyone. It will just start a feud. Just rest while standing our trip is nearly half over.
When the train arrives NY PENN Station don't look left or right, just aim your eyes on the train door. No need to concentrate on where you are going, the herd will shove and trap you to the one direction...the escalator. If you are lucky it will go quickly with minimal body damage. Now brace yourself, we will have to go up another flight of stairs and walk a long corridor with hundreds of people. The main exit is another flight, take them quickly or you'll be trampled. Once at the top move quickly to the left and from there it is two blocks to the subway. When we cross the street just hurry and yes...people will intentionally aim for you from the opposite direction. Just push through.
There! You see, we made it to the subway. Don't give the peddlers money or you'll go broke in a couple of days. All kinds are in there from the mother with the baby asking for milk money, the man with expensive jeans and sneakers saying he has been out of work for a year (he's been saying it for 3years) to the singers and dancers putting on a 10 second show. Just look down. Try to get a seat but don't bank on one. It doesn't matter if you're in front of the train door, once it opens people will push you out of their way. Everyone thinks the same. I MUST GET A SEAT. Especially those on the train for one stop, those are the worst, they will literally shove you over. It's five stops to our exit, just look down and don't use any electronics. I have seen someone punched in the face for their device.
Here we are! Now we only have to walk 10 blocks to reach work. The upper east side is another world. Crossing the street here is like the Spartans at the start of battle. You must reach the corner through dog walkers, nannies and other people getting to work. Just look ahead and aim for speed. Once at the corner there will be a stare down. Those on the other side are warning you with looks that they intend to trample you, you must stare back viciously, if you are lucky they fear you more then you fear them and once in the middle of the street they will move out of the way. You won't be able to walk around as it will be like a wall of people. GOOD LUCK!
WAIT! There is a particular corner where a female cop directs traffic. Watch her closely as she only cares about the cars, there have been many near misses with people crossing while paying attention only to the light. Watch her as well.
LOOK! We are almost there! The gates to the campus!
Well? I hope you fared well. Now let's sit at our desk and take deep breathes to calm ourselves, our day has only just begun. Happy 9AM, we get to do that commute all over again at 5 and the people are tired and even meaner.
Thanks for sharing that commute with me. How did you like it?
Gracey,
ReplyDeleteYou are a warrior with the heart of a princess!
I would not survive the commute.
Bruce