Myriad of People, Myriad of Thoughts

The problem with a loose shoelace is that once you untie and re-tie, you must do it again to the other shoe even if the other show was perfectly fine to begin with. The urge is simply uncontrollable, and it's exactly what I do, propping my foot up on a stoop at the corner of 186th and Overlook.

I run into Yael B. in the tunnel that leads to the station and say hello. She waves briefly as she passes me. I also see Harriet T. near the metrocard machines. "Don't you go writing about me in your blog!" she hollers after me, smiling, as I enter the turnstiles.

The platform is crowded and I pass a myriad of faces belonging to people that are familiar (mostly from synagogue) but whom I don't actually know. I let one of them, a pale skinned girl with dark hair and features, get ahead of me into the train.

At 59th, the D Train arrives quickly, giving me plenty of time to pick up breakfast before work; I even get a seat. As I sit down for the short ride, I start to look forward to what will hopefully be a great new week.

Cooper Trooper

I walk out of my apartment building and see a Mini Cooper parked out front. Years ago, the movie The Italian Job instilled in me a minor obsession with the Cooper, and although the obsession is long over, it is still a very admirable vehicle.

On 186th Street, I bump into Harriet T. and we say good morning. I continue towards the station and turning onto Overlook terrace I spot Yaakov B. walking behind me.

Inside the station, I make my way to the platform. At the bottom of the stairs a woman in a long red overcoat is wearing a surgical mask. Further on, I see Luba K.

Luba and I talk about work. She is in marketing, although her degree is pre-law, and is responsible at her firm for one major client. We board the train but can’t find two seats next to each other and sit apart. I wonder if Abbey will be jealous now that Luba has made it to the morning blog.

Umbrellas

I hate umbrellas. I rarely use them, but this morning the rain is so bad I have little choice. On 186th Street I see Harriet and she waves. I wave back and continue on to the station. Miriam B. is walking out as I'm walking in. She has taken the elevator down from Fort Wash and tells me she is on her way to see a client.

Swiping my card at the turnstile, I get the infamous "insufficient fare" message, and am surprised to learn that my monthly has expired yet again. I am getting a new card and just finishing the purchase when I hear the train approaching. I don't run for it, and I miss it, but once on the platform it's clear that was an uptown. There are still plenty of people waiting for the downtown. Adam E. is on the platform just ahead of me.

Walking towards my usual spot I run into Tova K. We sit together on the train and discuss her upcoming travel plans. Two nights ago, we spent an hour on the phone - I was giving her tips on what to see in various European cities - and so the subject switches quickly. We move into a discussion about relationships. This seems to be the new hot topic in the neighborhood, with lots of scandalous chitchat to fuel it. I'm glad to say, however, that our conversation is able to stay away from the shallow, even as we discuss people that have long ago fallen off the deep end.