Transcript
[Sound of MTA train entering station]
The train, with much to be worked on the contents, the exterior is a sight to behold. In trains, we are in a pickle jar barricaded from the dangers of the outside, yet with front-row seats to observe the city’s happenings. Do you ever get that feeling of serenity when you see the dawn and that same old view? On the train, as I can imagine with other forms of transport, I appreciated countless sights with that same emotion. I would glance out that side door window and observe the cars bustling around me, the people walking to work, the children playing basketball before school, my city.
My neighborhood is tucked away in a quiet section of the city, and the A train provided an avenue to connect me to the rest of the city both spiritually and physically. Like any form of transport we enjoy, we acclimate to the freedom it offers us and miss its nostalgic grace. Like a bike or a car, I miss the freedom the train offered me. For around 3 bucks (2.75 back in its heyday) I could explore any sector of the city. This train urged me to get creative with the food places I would try and the piers I would explore. Each location packs hidden surprises behind the bland names; to quote from the film, Forrest Gump, the train system is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. Each station held boundless wonder. I observed the vast offerings of Jamaica Bay twice a week as I returned from swim practice. After the grind of embodying a shark in water, the expansive bay from the round train window calmed me.
[MTA sounds in background]
Paralleling the surroundings, the train system would house many unique daily events, in addition to the twenty or so people I see each day prepping for their 9 to 5. The consistent mix of attitudes unlocked and revitalized my temple for years. Akin to biking out into town and observing the bees pollinating and children chirping; on the train, there would always be an underlying consistency each day, with subtle differences only picked up by one who has spent a lifetime. The nostalgia of freedom in high school, to explore as we wished via our own version of transport, lingers in my heart ever so dearly. Those days of break using the school metrocard to go anywhere we desired were exceptional.
[MTA sounds in background]
Beyond the illustrative windows, the inside of the train hosted a new sense of peace. After years of hustling and waiting for them, the train seats began offering a strong sense of comfort. Retaining a seat was a mini accomplishment each time, and no, not because I beat a 6-year-old rushing to the seat, but because of the free security for the rest of the ride. As it feels when we call shotgun, finding a seat on a bustling train is an investment in our future relief. Reaching my seat signified my achieving the freedom to power down and then turn back on when I rolled up to my stop. I could zone out from the ramblings of the interior and zoom in on the homework assignment due in two days. I could pop open a book I planned to finish, but never had the time. My view originates from the strategy, intuition and comfortability on the train.
[MTA sounds in background]
The wondrous elevation, akin to a ride on a roller coaster fused with a Ferris wheel, calmed me. After every swim or lacrosse practice, the thought of that seat(or any other) was
sublime. It was a way to rest and kick back at the end of the day, or if riding in the morning, to grind out my assignments in 20 minutes. All while enjoying the view or tranquilizing darkness at night.
[MTA sounds in background]
Some perhaps say the train has many distractions to prevent one from feeling at peace. A barren train does indeed offer a form of discomfort, just as no cars on the highway during rush hour would unsettle us ever so slightly. I find comfort in knowing that others are on similar paths as me. Even though we end at different spots, this minor daily interaction keeps me grounded. Just as one would bike with friends, I would enjoy chatting it up with my friends on our way home on the train. Many forms of transport are unique to our homes. For me, it’s the train. For others, it’s their huskies or even skateboards. With the nostalgia of our previous vehicles in mind, can we advance to greener means of transport? Nonetheless, our transport routine links us with the past and our wistful days.
[Sound of MTA train leaving the station]
All audio recorded and produced by the author
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