Thank you for following along this meandering train of thought! The exercise of putting pen to paper has been liberating, and a great daily challenge. I appreciate you taking the time to read and offer your reflections, knowing these thoughts have been written in a compact time, and in a compact train car.
I leave you with this list below, inspired by the “Street Car Salad” poem attached, poet unknown. Written about the exciting but troublesome public transportation NYC was experiencing in the late 1800s. Thanks again!
The Metro Mole People, A Glossary.
Runners = Sprinters who hope beyond hope to make it from one platform floor to the next in less than 2 seconds flat, subsequently flinging themselves onto the train before the door closes
Talkers = Phone talkers who speak at a decibel loud enough for an actual state with representation to hear
Snoozers = Those who sleep while traveling, typically holding many bags and/or suitcases and depend on the shelter of the train during daylight hours
Left Side Escalator Standers = People who live life on the edge, and enjoy making others uncomfortable to the brink of fist fighting
Right Side Escalator Standers = Described as rule-followers, typically can be found glaring back at the LSESers or those who don’t pay metro fare
Guy = A magical man who sneezes to bring forth the train
Nervous suit people = Those suit-wearing people who are clearly uncomfortable by the proximity of an economically diverse group but have no other choice to metro because parking is a pain
Peace Keepers = Staff in tiny WMATA huts who conveniently miss every person who jumps the train fare
Parents = Jugglers who can hold hands with strollers, kids, bags and coffee, and can be found at the platform praying someone gives up their seat
Capitals Fans = I have no words
Old Kids= Youth who love freedom, laugh often and are ready to rough you up if you make them
Baby Kids = Children who are not impressed with the train any more but are still impressed with their older siblings
Air Punchers = Someone who quite literally punches the air. May speak to themself or experience auditory or visual hallucinations
Podcasters = Those who use commuting time to catch up on the latest and greatest, typically found staring off at a distance with furrowed brow
Unsung Heroes = Anyone over the age of 80 riding public transportation
Little Weirdos = Catch all category for those seemingly neutral riders who are astutely yet secretly people-watching
Who did I miss????
Thanks again.