my favorite conductor

i entered the station this morning and looked at my watch. a couple minutes before 7 seems to be the right time to catch my favorite subway at 96th street. if you want to read about what i'm talking about click here, or here.

i guess what i love about this conductor, apart from his humor and high spirits (at a time of day when most of us need both) is that he is a link to the real world, down in the subway one. The subway is always dark, the trains always running - but it is this conductor that reminds us when it is the week of thanksgiving, when it is cold outside and to bundle up (as he did today). he is also a voice of decency. today, as he does many other days, he reminded us to pick up after ourselves - to throw things in the trash and not on the ground. indeed, some of us seem to need a reminder - a voice of consciousness.

today was especially nice because i managed to get towards the middle of the train (one conductor rides in the front, one in the middle) and when i got off at 14th street i had enough time to ask this conductor what his name was and tell him how much he improved my morning commute on the days i was lucky enough to catch his subway. i think it's always good to let people know when you appreciate them.

thank you kevin.