Back to New York
April 19, 2006


The daily adventure continues.

On the Metro North and I decide to take a later train to New York. Did not even get to the first stop when I hear over the speaker "Stop all trains", I was in the first car so I get to hear everything the conductor talks to and with. So it stops and the announcement comes that there is a brush fire (photos) & the firemen have to put it out first due to the fire which might have affected the wires for the train. Waiting for close to an hour. I call my job to tell them the first time I will be late and the reason why. I try again but the damn fax machine is now on and I cant leave any more messages. Now the train is an hour late. I have no other way to contact anyone. I am meeting with a Photoshop Client across town on the upper side but now, at least one hour late to Grand Central then I have to take 2 subway trains to the destination. Finally I arrive at Grand Central and of all the days, I need a Metrocard. I usually always have one filled but needed one so quickly I get the Metrocard and walk to the Shuttle. Waiting for the shuttle is another adventure. So crowed I could not get into the 2 trains. In the meantime, I see a woman asking how to get to Penn station. She looks so lost. So I tell her to take the Shuttle. Go to Times Square and take the 1, 2, or 3 train DOWNTOWN not uptown. She could also take the number 6 but I tell her to take what is on her paper. I find out that she is from the same state as me and she is late for a show that she is to be at now and has no signal on her cell (must be Sprint) and that she was on the same train as me that is why she was late. I was calm and it felt good to help someone that it was her first time in the subways. I told her I was getting the A BCD1 tain and that i was going to the same station and that I would show her where to go. For her, follow the Red Circles of 1, 2, 3, train. So finally we squeeze onto the Shuttle train, and I walk with her and show her how to read the signs 1, 2, 3, color coded Downtown and tell her that is what she needs to be on and to watch the stops. A nice thank you to me from her. I am very happy to help. Gave me a great feeling to assist someone.
Now I am on the A train and it decides to stop and the air conditioner stops and there is walls on the side of each of the doors. I can feel my heart race and I begin to panic because I have no signal and who really knows where I am and I don't know why we stopped and its so very hot in this crowed A train and I just begin to pray that it starts up again and nothing bad happens. After 4 mins, yes I timed it, the A train starts again and I get off at my destination, now and hour and half late. Will my Photoshop clients be at the destination. I walk so very fast, sweat, heavy with carrying my computer and stressed...Yes they are there. I explain and show the photos. All is well, I begin the lesson and get a coffee.

another adventure in the day of the life of Speedy.