People in This City Never Cease to Amaze Me.

This morning on a LOOOOONG return trip from a visit to a high school in Queens (so long, in fact, that hopstop.com doesn't even know how to tell you to get there by public transportation), I was finally on the F train heading in to Manhattan and watched as the woman sitting across from me leaned to her left toward the edge of the seat, SPIT ON THE FLOOR, and then nonchalantly resumed reading her paper.

FOR REAL!!!

I think I physically gagged, and then stared at her in absolute disbelief. In fact, I'm still shocked. Good god, the humanity.


And THEN, just to REALLY throw me for a loop, on the R train this evening, a married guy (I saw the wedding band) seated on the bench in front of me offered to stand so I could take his seat. HUH??? I politely declined and thanked him, and then stood there, befuddled. This city is not known for its overly chivalrous behavior, let's face it. In fact, the only person I've seen give up a seat to someone is ME! Well, and my cousin Jeramy who kept letting the nearest woman sit when he visited last year, but after a few days even HE got sick of it and stayed put.

The only possible explanation is that I must look like I'm over 70? I AM looking kind of wrinkly these days; all those sunburns as a kid, ya know. Or maybe it was the gut protruding into his personal space? because GEEZ, I AM WORKING ON THAT, PEOPLE. Hmm... old age, pregnancy, disability... none of those are particularly reassuring explanations.

OR, and let's hope this is the case, he's from somewhere in the South and has a mama who made sure he was Raised Right, capital R, capital R. Let's hope.

I'm heading back out to freaking Nassau County two more times this week, plus the usual gigs in East Harlem and Bed-Stuy. That's a lot of train-riding, unfortunately. Who knows what will shock and awe me tomorrow??