Angst in the morning...

Yesterday was one of those lovely New York mornings. Huffing through the rain, only to get down to the subway platform and find it packed with people; a tell-tale sign that it has been a loooong time since a train has graced this station with its presence.

At last a train comes.. full of people, so that only a few of the more pushy commuters make their way onto the already crowded train (I live only few stops from the beginning of the line, so if it's already ridiculously crowded on the train at my stop- it only gets uglier- and let's face it stuffier and smellier- as the train ambles downtown). The next train pulls into the station: blaring its horn, another tell-tale sign for regular subway riders that this train will not be be stopping at this station. Finally another train rolls in, and I manage to get on this one- packed in with a bunch of my closest, damp and impatient friends.

We make our way downtown. And is the case on a crowded train, it takes a little more time in each station, as people crammed on the train try to squeeze out, and those in the station try and shoe-horn their way onto the train. At which point the conductor comes over the loudspeaker and announces, "Please do not hold those doors open. This train is behind schedule- 15 minutes behind schedule and we need to keep moving." Pardon me while I double over in laughter.

Two problems with the conductor's announcement. 1. Not our fault the train is late. It is only this crowded because the train is late, and did I mention that's not the passengers' fault? 2. There's a schedule!!?? Anybody who rides the subway on a regular basis has to find that statement laughable at best- and completely ridiculous at worst. What's that "schedule" look like? Okay, one train at 9:05, the next one at 9:07, followed by the 9:23, then the 9:32 and 9:58 trains. Please.

Don't BS us. The MTA keeps raising the fares, the least they can do is tell their employees to be straight-shooters with the commuters. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your conductor speaking. Sorry this train is late and the air conditioning's not on not despite the 83% humidity. We have no idea why we've been delayed, but it's our bad. We also apologize for the stinky fat dude next you- we've told him countless times to wear deodorant. I would say we should be moving shortly, but that would be a lie- since I have no idea when we'll be moving. Thank you and have a pleasant day."