Note to Self.

Self, when you see an empty subway car approaching the terminal there's usually a reason why it's empty. And no, it's not because you are incredibly lucky or fortunate. It's because of either

A) Vomit.
B) No Air conditioner
C) A vagrant*

Please move directly to the next car.

* Now I hate to consider myself as an elitest or snooty or hoitey-toitey etc. but man! Sometimes them bums can really reek. It's sad and I feel bad that I can't be more sensitive to their plight etc. but this guy was staked out in the middle of the car and he had his protective trash bags (filled with who knows what) strewn about him in a semi-circular fashion and he was totally zonked out. It was raining and so he also had a damp musty smell along with his usually smell. So me and the wife upon entering the car (thinking we'd scored and would be able to get a seat) notice the bum, get hit by the horrendous odor eminating from said bum and immediately try to be as far as possible. And wouldn't you know it?... that still wasn't far enough. Oh man, I was affraid to take a breath!

Now I've been away from the rotten apple a few months now so my smell has not yet gotten de-sensitized from the strange and unusual odors that fill New York and thus at the next stop we switched cars. I've never had to do that before but man, I didn't want to be there any longer then I had to be... And as luck would have it the next car had some kid eating cool ranch doritos. Smelling that I almost puked. Not that cool ranch is bad but I'm remembered of my brother Richard's feet and how they use to smell like corn chips when I was a kid.

Them feet were bad but not leaving a subway car bad... But before today, during my time back this past couple of days, I was lucky enough to experience the subway cars in my memories: Clean, cool, and shiny... No bums, smells, beggars, or crowds. It's amazing what a couple of months in California can do and how I can wax poetic and not remember these things that are quintessentially New York. I guess that's what's sorta amazing about this place... No matter how bad it may seem, you'll always (or most of the time) come away with something positive and with warm feelings... and thus I fear that the next time I see an empty subway car, I'll be the first one in.