why new yorkers talk to themselves

originally posted as a facebook note on june 8, 2009

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today was a long day. work, dance class and a brief stop at whole foods. by 9:30 i just wanted to go home.

i went to catch the 1 train. while i’m on the 1 train i see the 2 train pass by. the 2 train is my train home and i was going to transfer at the next stop.

the 1 train pulls into the 42nd street stop. i see the doors open on the 2 train. people are getting off the 2 train. people are boarding the 2 train. the 1 train stops. i get up and stand by the doors, ready to dash across the platform to catch my train. but noooooooo!

just as the 1 train doors open, the 2 train doors close and it pulls away, playing that all to familiar “there’s a place for us” theme against the tracks as it pulls off…

“damnit!” i stomp my foot and exit the 1 train. i wait and wait. the 3 train comes. i wait and wait. finally another 2 train comes. i sit in the 2 person seat and spread out. i begin to eat my whole foods takeout. and we sit. and we sit some more. i hear another train approach. i KNOW they are not waiting for that 1 train. then i hear “we’re being held at the station to accommodate connecting passengers, we’ll be moving shortly. thank you for your patience”…

why is it that the MTA never cares about providing good customer service when i need to catch a connecting train, but when i’m ret, yes, RET TO GO, we can wait all day to make sure everybody else can catch the train.

so i said out loud, in frustration, “oh, now you wanna wait”. the man sitting across from me looked up. i sucked my teeth and shook my head, mumbling as i continued to eat my food.

and this is why new yorkers talk to themselves.

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listen closely to the first three tones when the train pulls out of the station. the third tone for “place” is the same note but an octave higher.

singing starts around :25