So I promise, no soul-moving, life-changing, or deeply important things today. Only self-deprecating, everyday stories....
This morning the trains were late- so far, normal- and everyone was in a hurry. The packed trains kept passing the crowd by, who was getting more and more frustrated. Just yesterday we had a staff meeting where we were reminded that someone needs to always be here at 9. (Since I'm usually the one here at 9, I'm assuming that they're referring to the 2 times I've been late). So this morning, I was feeling the anxiety that the business-casuals being passed by the train were feeling....
My first train arrived, we all herded in and packed on, and we made it to the transfer station. Everyone is in a hurry during rush hour in the mornings, but for those in an extra state of "hurriedness" they mandate the right side of the escalators for standing people and the left for the crazies to walk/run/leap up. Well, as I was making my way up the left side, I kept imagining what would happen if just one person on the right swung their elbow just right, knocking down their fellow left-side and causing a domino effect of people down the way.
Somehow in the middle of my day-dreaming, BAM! I completely fall. I still have no idea how it happened. But I have a large bruise on my knee and part of my toenail gone, so I know it happen. And the funny part was, as I was literally laying on the left side of the escalator, people continued standing, staring ahead. I guess it's normal for a curly-headed girl to be sprawled out, face-down on the escalator during rush hour. Thanks business casuals. There was one older woman that asked "Honey, are you alright?" Pridefully, I picked myself up and with my head held high muttered an "Oh yeah, I'm fine." Right Molly- because this happens all the time.
And then I make my way up the rest of the escalator, limping and missing part of a toenail, to begin my morning here in good ol' Chicago.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
A More Perfect Union
Obama does a wonderful job of speaking to my soul. I'm not sure how he does it, but everything he says resonates with something deep within me....and this morning was no different:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU&feature=related
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Stressed?
If you want to know how people deal with stress in the city, ride the public transportation. At some point during your ride most likely something will break down, hesitate or sling you from side to side. Last night I got on the train and the usual 10 minutes it takes to get from downtown to my apartment turned into a 45 minute ride.
The girl sitting on the other end of the car continued talking to her boyfriend about supermodels. About how they can't eat, how they're really not stick-skinny (obviously it's just the camera that gives them that effect) and she just can't get over....
The couple sitting in the middle of the car start creating their own CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) slogans. "If you want to add annoyance to your long, frustrating day at work, take the train!"
The girl on the end kept staring at the floor, sitting in the same position with her hipster skirt and jacket placed just so. I wish I knew what was playing on her iPod to keep her sitting that still, staring at that same spot, with no expression for the entire ride....
And finally, the boy across from me. He kept mumbling curse words, banging his head on the back of his chair and then (my favorite part of course) taking out his lighter to burn the bottom of his jeans. Over and over again.
I tend to just sit in a kind of lethargic state, staring into nothingness and thinking about the past. Today the rain made this impossible not to do. I was at a training and sometime during my third glass of Ugandan Chai (that I smuggled into the country club in my purse), my mind wandered back to Uganda. Sitting in the hut with the doors open, listening to Dr. Kim talk about water pumps and agricultural ideas: solutions for practical problems. Then the rain would come and we'd all stop and listen. There's no rain like African rain. And as I snap back into how to solicit money from "major gift donors" I ask myself, what am I doing here?
The girl sitting on the other end of the car continued talking to her boyfriend about supermodels. About how they can't eat, how they're really not stick-skinny (obviously it's just the camera that gives them that effect) and she just can't get over....
The couple sitting in the middle of the car start creating their own CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) slogans. "If you want to add annoyance to your long, frustrating day at work, take the train!"
The girl on the end kept staring at the floor, sitting in the same position with her hipster skirt and jacket placed just so. I wish I knew what was playing on her iPod to keep her sitting that still, staring at that same spot, with no expression for the entire ride....
And finally, the boy across from me. He kept mumbling curse words, banging his head on the back of his chair and then (my favorite part of course) taking out his lighter to burn the bottom of his jeans. Over and over again.
I tend to just sit in a kind of lethargic state, staring into nothingness and thinking about the past. Today the rain made this impossible not to do. I was at a training and sometime during my third glass of Ugandan Chai (that I smuggled into the country club in my purse), my mind wandered back to Uganda. Sitting in the hut with the doors open, listening to Dr. Kim talk about water pumps and agricultural ideas: solutions for practical problems. Then the rain would come and we'd all stop and listen. There's no rain like African rain. And as I snap back into how to solicit money from "major gift donors" I ask myself, what am I doing here?
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