My Dearest, Dearest 1 train:
Let's be honest. We have a very rocky relationship. At times you're my best friend, but more times than not, you're my worst nightmare. As someone who goes to school about 20 blocks outside of Manhattan, I understand that you and you alone are my way into the "City That Never Sleeps", and I don't take that for granted. Of course, I would be able to get there 20 minutes faster if I took an Uber, but who has the money for that?
I am writing this article as you are, for the second weekend in a row, closed down for service changes. I understand that you need to do whatever you need to do to justify raising the fare to $3.00 but don't you know the weather is just starting to get nice and I'm trying to get some froyo and go on a walk in Central Park?!
Whenever I take you, I never know who or what I am going to see. There was that time when I ran into Bill Nye the Science Guy, and we discussed his stint on Dancing With the Stars. Or, the time where my friends and I got to hold some man's parrot and he started having a full-on conversation with us (the bird, not the man).
There is never a time when you aren't packed with hundreds of people (in each car), but the best stops are 110th, 96th and 42nd when the train empties out and everyone makes their transfers, and we can finally take a group picture for The Gram.
You provide me with the best times to contemplate my life when we are "temporarily delayed and will be moving shortly". But really, what's up with that? Even though you are the reason I go out every weekend, you're also the reason I have to start my night at 9 PM.
I know, however, there are times when you're looking out for me. Like times when I've spent a long day walking around Manhattan and just want to go back to school, and you tell me that you will be skipping all local stops and going right to 242nd street.
Regardless of all of the rough times, I know that you will always be there for me. Whenever I want to go home, you are always there to bring me to Grand Central. Whenever I see a New Fork City post that I want to try ASAP, I come right to you, and you know exactly where to take me.
Number 1, you are truly #1.
