Whether you think there is nothing worse or you think there is nothing better, public transportation is quite an experience.
What makes public transportation so...interesting...is the fact that it is public. You are traveling in close quarters with dozens of complete strangers; and let's face it -- people are weird.
No matter if you've been a commuter for 20 years or if you only take the subway when it's an absolute necessity, I'm sure you have a story or two about your experience(s)-- and the people who make you remember them.
The Odd Man
You have your ticket and your train is on time. Perfect, right? All you have to do is wait for five minutes and you'll be on your way. Well, you're sitting on the bench next to the platform, minding your own business, and some very odd man comes and decides to sit right next to you. Before you know it, he's telling you about some documentary he watched on Netflix and how he's still not over his ex-wife.
The Scrooge
Your train finally arrives. You step into the closest car, hoping it's not too crowded. You look to your left and see a seat occupied not by a person, but by a briefcase. You look over to the person sitting next to the 'open' seat and kindly ask: is this seat taken? They look at you with disgust. They grab their briefcase off the seat, plop it on their lap, and mumble this day sucks all at the same time.
The Man Who Found Jesus
In comes a booming, "PRAISE JESUS," shaking the entire car. A man starts preaching to the commuters, and is engaging anyone whose attention he can catch. You know that if he catches your eye, he will be preaching to you for the next 45 minutes. So, you pull out your phone and start scrolling through just so you look busy. Can I get an Amen??
The iPhoner
You can't help but wonder -- do people not realize they're being inconsiderate or do they just not care? Well, why not just ask the woman sitting across from you? She has been on her phone the entire train ride. And she hasn't been subtle. By this point, you (and everyone else in the car) know that she has had a very long day at work and her daughter Hanna has a doctor's appointment at 3pm tomorrow.
The Cute Guy
Sometimes, just when you think nothing could make your ride enjoyable, in walks a cute guy. What better way to pass the time than having something good to look at? See ya later, Sudoku, I have my own puzzle to solve.
The Sneezer
GO TAKE SOME CLARITIN AND COVER YOUR MOUTH. Please. You are disgusting.
The Non-Stop Talker
Friendly is certainly better than not, but too friendly is definitely not OK when it comes to public transportation coexistence. You try to be considerate- saying thank you, saying excuse me-- but there is a line. Once the girl across the row starts chatting you up for more than 10 minutes, you know it's too much. "So I was like, 'Brad... it's over Brad. You just have to move on, OK? What we had was nice, but it is over now, Brad." This girl was only half way through telling you about Brad, and you hated him. You hated Brad.
The New-And-Improved Version Of Yourself
You have made it to your stop. You have endured, you have fought, you have won. You are new and improved. Who wouldn't be happy? You deserve a round of applause.
