Riding the NYC Metro subway system every weekday for three hours a day to and from college was tiring. It’s especially exhausting on that last leg home on the “D” train at night.
It was not uncommon for me to fall asleep in the subway as it jostled down the rails. The NYC Metro trains are not quiet like the Paris subway; they rattle and jar, jerk and screech. When the subway car was full, I would be standing near the doors. Nevertheless, on more than one occasion, I fell asleep standing up. Yup! I dropped my books and briefcase. A quick recovery couldn’t save the embarrassment.
Okay, so I tried to be clever and leaned against the doors one time so I wouldn’t get woken up. The doors usually opened on the other side since it was an express train. My plan usually worked, but not this time. The train pulled into a station and, BAM! The doors on my side opened. I was SO shocked! I ended up stumbling out of the train backwards onto the platform. Ugh, no luck.
Sometimes I would return home very late after drill practice and drinking games. The train would be empty, and I’d stretch out, super comfy. Too comfy, actually, because I’d miss my stop at Kingsbridge Road. I’d end up going a couple of stops further north to the end of the line at 205th Street. I’d wake up, stumble across the platform for the next train going south. Only two stops left, and guess what? I’d fall asleep again and miss my stop. Then I’d get off, cross the platform, and head north again. I totally lost count of how many times I missed Kingsbridge Road.
I should have stood up against the doors.
The last subway story is when they were not runny.
The NYC Metro was planning a system-wide strike on January 1, 1966. Since I didn’t want to miss classes, I made plans to stay with friends at school. I think my Mom and Dad brought me to Brooklyn after the holidays. I stayed in the dorms which were across the street from Pratt Institute in a 17-story apartment building. The strike lasted 12 days.
I only have 3 vivid memories of my stay at the dorms:
- The Batman TV program premiered on January 12, 1966. The world stopped and our dorm mates congregated at the only TV on the floor. POW! BANG! Ka-POW!
- I had to cram for a test.
- I lied about living at the dorm so I could eat at the cafeteria for free.
