Lesson #9- Be ready to get off

Personally,  I can't wait to get off the subway. In fact, I am so ready that I am usually clutching my bag, ready to leap for the open doors. I guess there are others that see the subway as a place to catch up on reading, take a nap - generally just enjoy spending time in the metal box that is the train. What's the deal? I mean it's pretty filthy! Packed with smelly, farting-spitting-whistlers that make noise and generally behave like they were born during the caveman era. Who wants to take a nap with all that circulating in the air? Not me!

The gentleman that was in the seat opposite mine on the Green Line the other night seemed very comfortable, reading his paper. It must have been really interesting, since he didn't realize that the train had stopped at his stop. Watching his face change from calm and collected to utter panic when the stop was announced was like being at the movies. I found myself on the edge of my seat - waiting for how the scene was going to end. The more he panicked, the more committed I became to watching. 

Scrunching his fully opened newspaper into a big ball of ink and processed tree, he threw it across the train, jumped up, grabbing everything he could at once: coat, shopping bag, briefcase, umbrella, someone else's coat! It was crazy. Running for the door, everything switched into a slow motion picture. The woman who's coat he grabbed flew out of her seat to stop the man making for the about-to-close doors. "That's nooot yoouur's!" 

Whipping around, the man threw her coat at her, the slow motion picture morphed into real time, he made it to the edge of the doors, down the first step, down the second, the doors closed, grazing his shoulders, but he was in the clear. The train continued on its way, everything was silent and only his hat lay in the aisle. What a great scene. 

So there you have lesson #9. Simply put, anticipate your stop and be ready to get off or you might leave something behind.