Tight-Knit

This morning, sat next two two women, strangers, who were sewing and knitting. I inquired about the projects; the knitter was making a little cap for a friend's baby boy, the "sew-er" was stitching a bow on a first communion dress. I was amazed at their steady hands as the LR car shook down the tracks...

Loud & Begging on the Cell

The guy two seats in front of me was trying to pull out a tree stump earlier and fell into a stream with his phone in his pocket...and wants to know why his girlfriend isn't more sympathetic and doesn't have dinner ready!!! But can she give him a ride to work tomorrow, please, Babe? As usual, I know all of this now because the cell phone call echoes across the train car...

You Meet All Kinds...

It's standing room only on the train this morning...and the guy sitting "below" me has a bike chain lock around his neck, spindly, wild teeth that look like the Grinch's when he smiles, and his eyes rolled into the back of his head when he asked me, "what time is it in our world here?" Interesting fellow...

!6th Street Station: Transfer Point Between Humanity & Insanity

If there is a regional transit-place where cultures, tastes, habits - AND dysfunctions - mix, it is the 16th st. LR station downtown. Riders waiting to go east - and south; smoking cigars, dancing to an internal beat, arguing with a mate, chugging an energy drink...and even sending a big ol' hocking loogie to the pavement to mark one's territory! 16th st station is the crossroads of humanity and insanity...

First, a Boy and a Girl Love Each Other...

Precious young mother sitting w/ 2 toddler boys, talking about motherhood: "We had this one first, and then we had this one 6 months later.". "SIX months later?," I ask. "Yeah, 6 months. He's younger." I say, "Well, they USUALLY come 9 months apart." "Oh yeah. 9 months, I guess," she shrugs. "I don't really remember." Lord, watch out for this little girl + her little ones.

Wired for Transit

The guy sitting next to me is listening to his iPod, alternately texting and taking calls on his cell phone, and reading what appears to be (as I look over his shoulder) a Sue Grafton novel...on his Kindle! A 21st century man right there...

Light Rail Literaries

I LOVE doing a census of what people are reading on the train - a quick eye sweep shows books from Clive Cussler, Dean Koontz, Dr. Oz, the Daily Guideposts, and the lady next to me is reading an old library book called "Women + the Conquest of California." The chapter she is on is entitled, "Ladies Evangelizing While Crossing the Plains.". I'm reading along over her shoulder... :)

Аргумент перехода

A couple got on w/their bikes, sat across from each other and commenced arguing w/ each other (in what sounds like Russian), pushing their bikes against one other with each emphatic word. But in the last 15 mins, they must have made up, because bikes are together now, and the couple is now sitting next to each other, hugging and kissing. Ah, relationships...

Urban Bonding

I slump into my aisle seat, just bone tired and frustrated...but then I am cheerfully engaged by Michelle!, a homesick college student who went to class today, danced, went shopping, and LOVES Keith Urban ("no one understands my music!", she says) She really wants me to listen to his songs on her i-Pod. So we listen together with her ear buds. She is very sweet. :)

Having Cares...and No One Caring

I noticed her last Friday and she was on again this AM, across from me - a woman sobbing quietly into her Starbucks coffee mug. Today I ask if she is okay, and we talk - tales of broken relationships with family, and feeling like no one cares. And she wants to run away, she says. It's interesting what you can learn about someone in an intimate conversation with a stranger. I do believe the true opposite of all emotion is...apathy. That seems to hurt us the most, sometimes.

Cocked & Loaded

Young kid - clearly not in his right mind - wedges door open to get on train, and is running up and down aisle "shooting people" with his cocked thumb and then "shooting himself in the temple each time. And then screaming out loud each time. I notice he has very long smooth fingernails. Manicured or not, we're pressing the "emergency button" on this dude.

In-Security

Talking to Derek, wearing dark glasses, carrying a cane, security guard on disability. His life is all about SECURITY. He says he did security on the set of Denzel Washington's first movie ("I helped Denzel get his career started but he doesn't remember that"), and loves George Bush because "his first priority was SECURITY!" :)

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

The lady who reads the newspaper out loud is on the train AGAIN this morning! She cracks me up. THIS morning she is also "taking calls from listeners," soliciting other riders' opinions on the news of the day. Don't need to read the headlines myself with her around, tho her Fox News slant on today's report is not balanced journalism...

Who IS That Guy?

There is a guy across the aisle from me who looks at me, smiles and waves. He's done it 4 times now. smiles...waves. smiles...waves. Says nothing. I stopped waving the 2nd time. Asked him his name-doesn't respond. There he goes again. smile...wave. Don't know where this is leading...

Holy Railers

I notice there is a woman down a few seats who closes her eyes and crosses herself every time we depart from a station. And considering we just SLAMMMED TO A HALT at 59th street, maybe I should be more prayerful, too... :)

Trying to Sing Against All Odds

A guy just got on the train singing, of all things, the song from the 80's movie "Against All Odds"!! "...SO TAAHK UH LEWK AHT ME NAAOOW...IT'S JUUHST AN EEHMPTY SPUHAACE.." and, of course, singing it miserably off-key. If he segues into "Footloose," I'm getting off at the next stop.

That's Not Mah Daddy...

Isaac's 11th birthday party is tonight; his mom is mad that his (EXPLETIVE)-ING FATHER WON'T BE THERE...and so she is going to invite her HOT MALE CO-WORKER instead, because she won't be able to stand ALL THOSE KIDS without a man around! I know all of this, of course, because Isaac's mom's cell phone conv. is there for all of u to hear and enjoy. :)

The iPod That Unites

Two young women, sharing a set of iPod ear buds, quietly sing with each other, sometimes giggling. The words they sing are in a different language, but the fun of watching them enjoy each other...is universal. :)

The City or the Animal?

Two loud guys with probably 4 teeth between them (not judging, just observing!)sharing Easter plans. "Hey, I'm gonna go visit my old lady and my daughter down in Chinchilla!" "You mean CHOWchilla, you fool!" "Uh, yeah, I'm goin' there, too!" I'm laughin'...

Hello Americans!!!

The "headline announcer lady" is on again this morning (the woman who reads the newspaper headlines and stories out of the newspaper, like a female Paul Harvey). Except there aren't that many people on the train this morning so her Arbitron share of # of people listening in, is low...Good Day!

Waiting For Simon Cowell

A girl, sitting nearby, rocking to her music, all of a sudden stands up and sings out, in this shrill, a-tonal voice- "BECAWZ AV YEEW...AH'LL NEVER STRAAY TOOO FAHR FRAHM DA SAAHDWAAK.." And then sits down. Wow. Don't think you're goin' to Hollywood, baby...

She's Bananas

At 16th St. station -A woman with a Chiquita Banana sticker on her forehead and a backpack with a big ol' stuffed bunny in it, just sat down next to me CRYING, BEGGING me to help her find a ticket for the train because she wants to "go to mah home!" I helped her get a ticket: she is now cussing at security for some reason. The reality show that is public transit...

Rail Veteran

Having a fascinating little chat with Allen, a Vietnam vet who says he lost his three fingers in some sort of incursion near his base at Cam Rahn Bay in the 60s (he shows me his hand). He is proud, as he should be. And now he falls back to sleep in the seat...

Transit Singers

Once again, one girl next to me, 2 across the aisle, upper bodies gyrating and singing to the R+B beat of the loud, tinny music coming from one girl's cell phone. Like being in the middle of a Destiny's Child jam session. They are actually pretty good! I'm too old to take up the invitation to gyrate with them, tho...

Men Have a Universal Reputation

Sitting next to the window, surrounded by three women chatting quietly in Spanish, with an ocassional unison giggle between them. If I am understanding correctly, they are talking about boyfriends and crazy husbands. Enjoying being a fly on the wall at this bi-lingual chat ... :)

Song & Smokes

There was a guy waitng at our station smoking like a chimney - now that he's on the train, he's phglem-coughing like crazy. If only he could cough in time to the music blaring from the headphones of the girl across from me...then we'd have a little transit percussion happening. :)

The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers...

Sitting at 16th St station, watching a guy, wearing a TIGGER Backpack with a wooden snake on his belt, dance and leap on the train tracks! He says, pointing to folks, "I'm gonna dance for you and you (and to young woman) and ESPECIALLY you!" The young woman says," Oh HELL no-you ain't dancin' for me..." The guy bows, and just about gets hit wby the train coming from the other direction. It's Friday on the transit....

Give Me My Space!

I'm sitting casual on train, with my knee on the seat, reading. Big guy talking on his phone comes up to me, SNAPS HIS FINGERS, pushes my knee off and says "I'm sittin' here now." I retort- "You ARE? I don't think so. Keep your hands to yourself!!" He moves to the next seat and is still glaring at me with a look of death, as I type this. This may not end well... :)

The Sign of the Cat (g-r-r-r-o-w-l-l-l)

The woman who just sat down next to me this early morn, I SWEAR, has leopard spot tatoos on her leg! I can see it thru the holes in her jeans. It could just be leggings, but it SURE looks like tatoo. I can see the wrinkles of skin in the ink. Hard to tell exactly at this angle. Tryingnottostare, tryingnottostare, tryingnottostare...but I gotta know.

Random Faith

Approached by a young man named Jamiel, who is from South-Central LA, in drug recovery, trying to find a job and "looking for God to find the right woman for him." He wanted someone to pray with him...so we got off the LR at 16th...and we prayed.

Cool Tunes

There's a guy here at the LR station with a big radio shaped like an ice chest, blaring his music across the tracks. Wait a minute-it IS an ice chest! With a radio built into it! Cool! Loud and annoying...but cool!

If you hear a tone in your left ear, raise your left hand...

There's a guy who has his i-Pod hooked up to a pair of those old, square, brown headphones that they used to use when they gave us hearing tests in school, or when we listened to tapes in the library. Never thought they ranked in sound quality, but he seems to like them; he's rockin' out in the pre-dawn...

Do You Talk to Your MOTHER With That Mouth?

Two middle school(?)-aged girls are by the train door talking a fast mess of profanity-laced smack about their peers - "OMG! She is such a (blank)(blank) little d**che bag!" "Oh, I know! And he likes her and he's a (blank) (blank) d***chebag, too!" ...I turn and tell them to keep it down: That request did not go over well with the pint-sized mean queens. :)

The Bond That Unites

Two guys, who appear to be strangers, sitting near each other, notice that they are wearing identical (same color, style) pullover winter caps! One guy saunters over to the other and says, "Nice HAT." They laugh and introduce themselves. An offer to share a smoke later is accepted. Friendships created on public transit...

Lipstick on a...

Yet another instance of a woman sitting across from me applying make up, while also balancing a bouquet of lillies on her lap. While I try not to stare, she sees me observing her and asks, "It's not helping, is it?" :)

I'm On the Outside Looking In...

The young woman sitting across from me, Melissa, sees me on my BB and asks me if I can get her a job. She is crying-hasn't had work in 2 years. Says she is "...tired of being on the outside of life, and I want to be on the inside." She was very sweet, and earnest. Insisted I take her number. Wish I could help her. Maybe I will.

I'm Like Totally, WhatEVER...That's Hella-Bad

Two young girls on the home-bound train: "You always say 'ya know' everytime you talk!" "No I don't! I never say 'ya know'!" "Yes you do! I should make a video of you doing it!" "Ya know, that's really rude when--" "SEE? You just said it AGAIN!" Girl turns away from her friend, pouting...

Breaking Up is Hard to Do...But Worth Sharing With the World

Someone has written on the train window - in deep red lipstick - "COCO NO LONGER LOVES SNOWFLAKE."

Hooked on Sweets

Proclamation from a man sitting on the train and nervously chomping candy out of a wet paper bag: "I used to be addicted to drugs...now I'm addicted to SKITTLES!"

Strummin' My Pain With His Fingers...

The young man sitting next to me ("Crazy Nate") has pulled out his guitar and is giving us an toe-tapping, acoustic performance ("My girl...whoa-whoa...my girl. Not even the words of this song will reach out to you from me..."). He's actually pretty good. Crazy Nate says his goal in life is to keep playing his guitar so he doesn't go crazy and rob a bank.

Broken Hearts and Hallways

Cellphone conversations I can't HELP but overhear as i ride the train today: Guy pleading with girl to forgive him for missing Valentine's Day ("Baby, sorry I forgot your flowers and candy, baby. You're my valentine EVERY day, baby")...and other guy aruging about his home remodel ("The color of the tile in the entryway HAS to match the color in the hallway!!!") Dueling priorities on the rails...

It's Sad to Listen, Sometimes...

Listening to a guy on the phone, a parolee, as he finds out he has to move out of his new apt. today - after only 3 days there - because he didn't list his past felonies on the rental application. He's now panicked, trying to contact his attny. to see if he can get his security deposit back and his stuff out. Sad what things you can overhear sometimes, riding the train...

We don't care (Kiss-Kiss) How Odd it Looks (Kiss-Kiss)

There is a couple sitting nearby me on the train who are making out FEVERISHLY, totally oblivious (ah, love) to the stares of all of the rest of us sitting nearby. HE looks about 20; SHE looks about 50, which makes it akwardly interesting to watch, in a Jerry Springer-ish kind of way. Wonder if they'll keep this up until the end of the line...

Lift Your Glasses To My New Life Plan!

Woman on the Light Rail talking to her friends - "First I'm goin' to school, then I'm gonna get a job, and then...I'm gonna start goin' to church! But I gotta stop drinkin' so much Jack Daniels every day...God doesn't like that!"

Thank God No Bald Spot!

Young guy walks right up to my seat on the train, RUNS HIS HANDS QUICKLY THRU MY HAIR (!!!) and says "I love your hair and your beard! You should be the 'after' picture on a 'Rogaine For Men' bottle!!" I'm flattered. But I'm more SHOCKE than flattered. People are unbelievable... :)

Train Deaf

The guy sitting next to me is listening to the music on his headphones SO LOUD, I can feel his SKULL rattle! It's loud enough that I could sing along, if I knew the words...

Cell Phone Comedy

4 women, sitting next to/across from each other, each one talking on a cell phone and giving each other dirty looks and yelling because they can't hear who is on their own phone...because they are each talking too loudly for the others to hear. It's comical!!!!! ("talk lower!" "what?" "shut up!" "YOU shut up!" "WHAT?")

Rappin' on th Rails

Young man starts "serenading" ME with a rap song! The song apparently goes: "I've been locked up a long time-I've been locked up a long, LONG time!" He is dancing mid-train and belting it out, and looking at me for approval. Then he stops mid-dance and says, "I'm not drunk, ya know..." Simon Cowell, where are you?

Romance, Horror, and the Bard

It's mercifully quiet on the train this morning. A lot of heads buried in paperbacks. I see two Rosamunde Pilcher novels, one Maeve Binchy, a student reading Stephen King...and a lady with purplish hair reading Hamlet.

Biker B--ch

I'm sitting close to the door at rear of train. Other riders/bikes near me. Girl gets on with bike and INSISTS I move out of my seat so she can sit next to her bike! Normally an overly- accommodating soul, she picked the WRONG day/night to push me. I'm not moving. We argue. She's in my face. Security intervenes. Brian-1, irrational bike rider-0. :)

"People on this train are CRAZY!"

Takes a lot of nerve: Older man is stepping very sl-o-o-wly off of the train at 59th St. Lady behind him turns around and shouts in his ear, " HURRY IT UP! YER SLOWIN' DOWN THE TRAIN! I GOTTA CATCH MAH BUS!" He is startled by her sharp yell, and he stumbles out the door. She turns back and sees us staring at her; she says "PEOPLE ON THIS TRAIN ARE CRAZY!!" Really? No kidding.

Romance on the Rails

Young man sits alone near me, holding a bouquet of small pink roses, talking on his cell phone. His girlfriend (I assume) gets on at 16th street, sees him and sits down. He gives her the roses. She is happy and hugs him. They chatter. Sweet.

Random Transit Party

There's a party in car 229A tonight! Music blarin', people yelling and singing. Guy just came and stood above me and said "YOU LOOK LIKE A BANKER! WILL YOU BE MY BANKER?". "Nope. Not a Banker," I said. Guy says to other riders: "THIS GUY IS MY BANKER!" Applause erupts in train! Guy sits ...down. Party continues. !?!?! Friends, I wish I had the imagination to make this stuff up... :)

Father/Daughter Ride

Little girl, with her Tinkerbell backpack and "princess" umbrella, suggled up with her dad on a seat, together. Both asleep, swaying with the gyrations of the train. If I could take a foto of this moment w/o violating privacy, I would. In a "venue" where I often see chaos and nonsense, the sight of a dad and daughter connected to each other is a gentle reassurance. :)

I'm Talking TOO LOUD? OHMIGOD! SHUTUP!

Teenager. Cell phone. Loud. "...OhmyGod! Rilly? Shutup! NO! Rilly? RILLY? Shutup! OhmyGod! Shutup! ShutUP! NO! Rilly? OhmyGodshutup! Rilly? No! Shutup!" Approximate conversation running time: 7 mins.

Syrupy Endearments

Lady gets on at 65th, sits next to me. Wants to talk. Shows me photos of her grandkids. Gets off at 16th and says "thanks for listening, pancake." ...Pancake? Never heard that term of endearment before. I'll consider it a compliment until I'm told otherwise.

Train Trikes

LAST Adventure on Light Rail for 2009: on this NY Eve, I'm counting NINE bicycles and their riders in the front of this car! Lots of jostling metal, rubber...and me. :) Happy New Year!!!!