"Don't ever get into an empty subway car" our family friend B told me (was I ten? eleven?). "Why?" I asked. "Because trust me...there's a reason it's empty." Not two hours later I decided to test her theory and found myself alone in a car with a pile--nay--a mountain of puke that quickly explained it's impressive volume: all who had the misfortune to be trapped with it, were physically forced to ADD to it. In later years other experiences brought to light how sage her advice had been; (seemingly) empty car equaled people sleeping in their own feces, proselytizing Christians, lunatics itching for confrontation. Mummers.
So this morning I was all nose in a book, and got into an empty car.
How was your day?
Posted by Antigeist at February 22, 2005 08:18 PMEek!
Aside: My writing group calls itself Third Glass of Wine, even though I'm the only one who routinely drinks wine. The Third Glass of Wine is magic.
Posted by: gwenda at February 22, 2005 09:31 PMThe rule of never getting into an empty subway car is so well-ingrained in me that in reading your post about it I realize it to be virtually kinesthetic. I mean, if someone had asked me about it I doubt I would say, never get into an empty subway car, but thinking, feeling it, no way, no fucking way.
Unless it were a G train.
Antigeis
Not to be too exact about it, but these equivalances occur to me, apposite to your striking but insufficient parable, if you get my drift. First, the third glass of wine cannot hold a candle to the fourth beer, in terms of sheer satisfaction for the double aim of filling the mind and body at once, for an extended moment. Second, nothing supplants the site of snow covered cars, at three in the morning. And if by chance one is coddling the fifth beer by candlelight with a view of snow covered cars, from the second story office where all thought is possible, all at once, then . . . one must indeed reflect on their own immortality.
Mortimer Shy
Actually, I once got into a very full N train at Times Square, and upon sniffing the air, thought "mmm, Chinese Food." Then I looked at the young Asian woman on the seat next to mine who had just tossed her cookies, so to speak.
Chinese food, indeed.
Posted by: jonmc at February 26, 2005 09:42 PM