Train Travel Tales

While New Yorkers may have the rep of not be friendly & just always on the move...it's only the latter statement that is true. Things move fast here & we don't stop & say hello to everyone we pass by. However, put us in a social setting anywhere & anytime you find out just how gregarious we are. As a prime example on my way back home yesterday on the LIRR it stopped as we pulled into Penn Station awaiting another train to pull in. While I'm standing waiting for the door to open with two other women one of the women's husband walks over. The wife asks "is that woman still sleeping". He replies "Yes, don't worry she''ll be fine". Don't you think we should wake her? ". I interject...she'll be fine. I have a good story about a friend who fell asleep...I tell mine...& then the single woman tells hers & then the Husband tells his...here they are....(Readers Digest Versions)

Combo's Night Out (My Story)

One of my best friends from College is out right after work on a weekday. Gets loaded & makes it to the train. Gets on the right train. Passes out cold. Wakes up somewhat confused...looks at his watch...it's 7am. Looks out the train window...he's back in Penn Station! He rode back & forth all night. Gets off the train & goes to work...

The Good Conductor (Single Woman)

Girl goes out at night with friends & is supposed to meet up with friends on Long Island. Gets loaded...but makes it to the train...even the right line (noticing a theme here). Passes out & wakes up confused. Friends have been calling her on her cell phone & she finally picks up. She's so drunk she doesn't know were she is or where she is going. As Conductor walks by she starts trying to communicate with him. The friend on other side of phone hears her rambling & says "give the Conductor the phone". He takes the phone & they ask him if he can please put heir friend in a cab & gives him the address. Drunk friend shows up 15 minutes later in a cab...after the Conductor walked her down the stairs & put her in the cab...

EMS Middle of Night Calls (Husband)

Guy was a  EMS volunteer working the night shift. Used to get frequent calls from LIRR Conductors to come pick-up drunks. Not your run of the mill...but your total disasters (see above for "like")...the ones the Conductor were worried would get in a car... kill themselves & whomever else they crashed into. I was surprised EMS would do this...but he said that this was a regular occurrence. The Conductors didn't want to let these people loose & the EMS workers would drop them off at the local Hospital to dry out...

I'm guessing the "sleeping woman" is going to be alright...she may even have a story of her own for her friends, family, & fellow passengers...on the train ride we call Life...