Tags and Scuffles

On Tuesday I experienced a random act of kindness.  I was waiting for the doors of the subway to open when a woman standing to my left said, "Your tag's sticking out."  As I reached lamely in the direction of said tag, the woman behind me tucked it in, giving my back a maternal little pat.  "There," she said, as if speaking to a toddler.  "You're all set."  A simple, minor exchange, but it warmed my sweaty little heart nonetheless. 

This week also brought with it subway interactions of a different kind, though this time not as warm and fuzzy.  Take yesterday, for example, when I saw a man from work as we were both heading into the subway station.  He was going one way, I the other, and we were saying goodbye when I realized I'd collided with a female MTA worker, who instantly began yelling.  Instinctively, I momentarily placed my hand on her arm and apologized, which only seemed to incense her more.  My coworker, laughing, said something like "get going, we don't want you in a fight."  As I scurried down the steps, the wrathful old gal was still standing there, outraged. 

New York, in light of my imminent departure, you are certainly pulling out all the stops.  (You should have seen me that day, post my reading of A New Earth, walking down my sunny street trying very hard not to feel like a storm cloud was dangling over me.)

And lastly, this evening while riding home and attempting not to grab the metal pole, my wedge sandal landed hard upon a stranger's flip flop.  I apologized profusely to him as well, and he smiled kindly, though I could tell he was trying not to wince.  Sorry, dude.  It was a total accident.

My ability to balance myself on the subway (no hands!) is advanced, has been commented upon, even.  What is going on with me?

I blame the heat.  It's gotta be the heat.

xoxo

Comments

[Sister]

The "T" workers in Boston are upset because Legal Seafoods has an ad campaign on the trains with "fresh fish" that say things like "This train operator looks like a halibut" and stupid things like that. The union is now boycotting Legal Seafoods. For reals.

[The Odd Broad]

Doesn't the T approve these ads before they're sold? They sound pretty funny, actually.