Props

Today was a good morning in that I was able to get plenty of sleep, the pillow between my knees didn't vanish in the night and I woke up feeling pretty good overall five minutes before my alarm went off. 

To recap: good sleep, low pain, not startled awake.

So I tempt fate, take my physical therapists advice, and left my cane in the car today. The leg is still sore, but I am not reliant on it today, and am walking upright instead of bent in half.

I still want a seat on the train to rest it, but apparently without my cane, this barrel-chested youthful stud of a man isn't disabled enough for a little girl to move out of the disability seat. Maybe my limp wasn't convincing enough.

I sighed to myself and grabbed a pole, and then the most amazing thing happened: an older lady, with whom I had shared my story, remembered me. She noticed me wincing slightly (remember less pain isn't zero pain) and turned to the girl and said, "would you be a hero today and let my friend sit. He is in quite a bit of pain but is too proud to ask you."

To her credit, the girl moved quickly and let me sit. And today I learned why we as a society need to talk to one another. This total stranger remembered me, my condition, and cared enough to stand up for me. Faith in humanity restored a bit.

Thanks to Lena.

Aussie

The tourist from Australia is holding his box of VooDoo Doughnuts upside-down. I wonder if he is aware of the humor in that.

Nearly empty train this time of night. College students and some old folks, all on their cell phones. The old guy next to me is playing slots on his Galaxy S4 and fist pumping when he gets a win. It's cute as hell.

Envy

So in the little seats reserved for old people and cripples, like me, there are three of us sitting here. We all have canes with them two having the walmart aluminum special, and me with my gnarled Irish walking cane.  I can feel their jealousy of my amazing accoutrement just radiating from them. 

Just because you can't walk doesn't mean you can't hobble in style.

In other news, the construction guy standing about three feet in front of me has dropped his gallon of milk twice.

I am certain he will do it again and I don't think that container can take it.. I hope he waits a few more stops for the grand finale as I don't want to be coated this morning in moo juice.

Trill

Hearing two guys speak Arabic is almost musical. Lots of emotive vowels and rolled Rs, the way I might sound if someone punched me in the mouth, and I tried to recite Shakespeare.

Fairly empty train, filled with people sighing and and using their phones. Several people have received calls but not one phone "rang." A couple bleepy bloops and some dance tunes. Strange assortment.

I am hungry and in the mood for a really sticky blueberry muffin.

Redux

Tailgated by an SUV this morning, I played a bit of cat and mouse with this silly girl who drives like a total idiot.

I went straight and she turned right as we went around the same block, meeting again on the opposite corner, where I go in front of her again. 

We both turned into the park & ride where I drove down the aisle and she zipped across the parking lot diagonally racing for a spot. Again, I got there first.

She parked next to me, we both get out and she runs for the train platform. I hobble on my bad leg far behind.  I finally reach the platform just as the train pulled up, where she was waiting breathlessly stupid. 

I just smirked at her as we both got on the train. 

Fashion

One reason I really enjoy fall and Winter is the clothing. From big billowy jackets to cute laced up boots, it's far more flexible than most summer wardrobes.

Grabbed a red line train just to get out of town and head home.  Apparently morbid obesity is a disability because that's what was filling up all six seats: three people; one buttcheek per seat.

Did I make one of them move? You're damn right I did.

Bicycles

Our two-wheeled friends are out in force early today. Thankfully not a very full train this morning. There are five of them on the train. That is way too much motivation per capita this early.

Bible guy is here and reading... looks like Matthew today. Wonder what great lessons he will glean and put to good use today.

The guy next to me sounds like he is on day 3 of a cold. Just had to ask him to please cover his cough. What kind of parents did he have, I wonder...

Quiet

The Tuesday evening train is always quieter than other times. A nice calm ride home after a night of trivia. Lots of open seating, and a more blue-collar feel to it. 

Two balding guys are talking football and politics while wearing their company-branded windbreakers. A very tall Asian girl who must work at a restaurant (because she smells like the number 13), carries with her several boxes of takeout for her friends and/or family.

An old silvered couple is sitting close in their seats, holding hands and making me jealous.

And I sit here, alone in one of the disability seats. There is a acne-faced kid who looks up from his iPhone long enough to say to me, "Hey man, cool cane," and his head goes back down.

Three-day

Even the plump little baby sitting directly in front of me doesn't want to go to work. And it won't have a job for probably another 17-24 years. 

Also, it pooped itself. Which is a natural reaction to being up this early after three days away from work. I'm half tempted to so the same.

Lots

Where do all these fucking people come from?

I'm constantly lowering the bar...

Leg

Very busy morning train we have going here. Thankfully a very nice guy yielded his seat for me when I asked. Not sure if it was my cane or me biting through my bottom lip that made the convincing argument, but ultimately it was effective.

Stupid leg.

Musketeers

If one person is sick on this train right now we are all screwed. Not sure why or how so many people are on this one, but it is close quarters and smells of bad cologne and mint gum.

The guy next to me has been reading me type this and laughed saying, "yeah... Not my cologne bro." 

All for one; one for all.

Sellout

The man before me has a nice pinstripe suit. He stands with good posture and confidence. The suit fits his shoulders, has good arm length, a single break in the leg which rests on his nice black shoes. Obviously tailored... He has a light purple shirt which looks pressed. He has a tie that doesn't look like a nine year old at church tied it (a pet peeve of mine is a man who can't tie a tie.) On his wrists he has a nice stainless watch with a simple dial. 

He also has the words Love and Hate in a used-to-be-black-now-light-green shade on his hands across alternate knuckles. His ears have the lopsided remnants of large gauging pulling in like an old grandma's lips pulling in a drag on a cigarette. 

There is a spider web inked under his right ear, and under that stainless watch pokes out a sleeve of various images on his skin.

His hair has a single half-inch wide streak of blue in it. It wouldn't surprise me if he was using it to just cover the gray.

Wonder what he sees in the mirror.

Forgetfulness

Rain does strange things to people. It makes them forget the concept of assured clear distance when driving, the fact that they put off replacing their wipers and bald tires also eludes them. A spinning, twirling bumper car takes the place of another commute on the road.

But cars aren't the only ones with deadened neurons; I give you the invincible pedestrian in dark clothing who either can or cannot elude the oncoming train in the cold, wet environment. The Heisenberg principle at work here, who knows but through observation if he will canter off barely or become a statistic.

It's not like the train sneaks up on you.

Well the trains are all delayed because today's subject apparently did not quite "barely" make it past the 55 ton beast.

Yeah, it's sad.. of course, but damn it, people!!!

Eau My

So much perfume. Eyes watering again. Smells like a car crashed through a walmart perfume stand in here. Wow.

It's only Tuesday but feels like Thursday already. I vote for a new work law that states if I do five days worth of work in two I should get the rest of the week off.

Citizen Will for President.