New York Kinda Morning

The universe apparently thought 30 minutes on the elliptical on Tuesday morning wasn’t enough exercise. When I made my way to the train around 8:30, commuters were exiting in a huff and I knew there was an issue with the train. I asked the MTA attendant if a train was going to arrive and she said something like “yes, but I don’t know when and there hasn’t been a train for a while.”

So helpful.

Instead of trying to figure out what was going on, I walked back up and attempted futilely to get on the downtown bus to catch the express a dozen or so blocks away. Everyone else on my line had the same idea so the bus was asked and I just decided to walk it.

Inhaling the morning air, getting my heart rate going (yet again), and stopping for a coffee at Plowshares was a way more ideal situation than waiting to get on a packed train.

But my journey wasn’t over yet. Plain impatience lead to my walking another 8 blocks once the express train arrived at Penn Station. More chilled air and finishing my coffee led me finally to my office. Only about 20 minutes later than usual (not late though, as I’m an early bird).

I could lament about how much the MTA blows (sometimes it does) but mostly I’m just grateful that I had the opportunity for the morning walk. I’m always thankful that my commute is on a train (where I can read), or at the very least, via walking. Because despite all the ways the MTA annoys me (and my fellow denizens of New York, I presume), it’s still the best damn transit system in the best damn city in the entire world.

And I get to live here.

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I recognize most of the morning 1 train conductors after riding it
regularly for over a year. This morning, although it was the regular
conductor, he was trying to making his job extra fun and trying (and succeeding)
to put a smile on our somewhat weary faces.

As he pulled the train into the station he already had his window down and was wishing everyone a good morning. How nice!

As we stalled in the next station, he told the passengers running
to catch the train to not run and be careful, because we were holding and
there was no rush.

On our way into the next station he came over the speakers to, as
always, make sure we’d take all of our personal belongings when we exited
the train, but also to “let’s make this a great Thursday!” So nice.

Even though the 1 trains are old and gross, it’s nice to have an actual
person talking to you instead of a prerecorded track. Because let’s
face it, a prerecorded track will never go off script and encourage you
to “make it a great Thursday.”