[u][b]Subway experiences[/b][/u]
As city folks most of us have interesting experiences on the subways
Here are a few of my experiences that are brought to mind:
1-First Subway Trip-We went to Manhattan to 42nd street with my mother when I was around 5-6 years old. Mom took us to Automat. I remember we had franks and beans.It was great and fun to use the machines that kept the food hot. The food was good and reasonable. What an experience.
2- To Grand Central- I went with Tom Horan to buy an Elvis album in mid 50’s. Was there a Sam Goody there at that time? The express was noisy, not too clean but it was fast and it was a great experience especially since n parents were with us.
3- Coming home from work reading a book. On the Express between Brooklyn Bridge and 125th street I was reading “Catcher in the Rye” and I starting laughing at experiences of Holden Caulfield? I had to stop reading at time as some people were noticing that I was happy and laughing. Remember people on the subways looked stone-faced, and almost expressionless. As usual the train was very crowded. After a while many people were close to laughing with me or about me but definitely not expressionless. I was somewhat embarrassed but I do think that I had happy impact on many. Laughing, and feeling good are contagious especially on a crowded train.
3-Religious Holidays. During High School I took Subways to Hayes. We could buy weekly passes for a nominal price. On religious holidays we could the passes to travel all over the 5 boroughs; sometimes we went to far reaches of Rockaway’s.
4-Wrong train. One night after drinking some after work I fell asleep and I awoke at 174th but on Jerome Ave line. Although it was freezing, it must have been 10 degrees, I decided to walk across the Bronx thinking that it would not take too long. Remember I was drinking a bit. Well after walking much more than an hour I got back to Cotter’s. By then I was stone sober/ready to get a few beers with friends who had a good laugh about my experience.
Of course there were many forgettable experiences. Coming home from Pace College one late night and as we went though the south Bronx five drugged crazed older teen angers terrorized the train. These guys were bad but nothing really happened since they picked on some men who did react to them. I have to say I was scared as I thought I would have to fight them more than likely by myself. The Subways could be a lonely place.