About a week ago I was on the subway, on my way back from seeing an apartment, when a guy got on the train. He was that awkward, sweet, quirky, husky sort of nerdy you see on guys who wear thick, black-framed glasses and argyle sweater vests. He was wearing both of these things. I have a soft spot for these sorts of people. He had obviously gotten caught in the rain. I watched him as he stood in front of me, holding the rail for support, and took his hopelessly tangled headphones from his pocket. Looking frustrated, he started the long and complicated process of untangling them. For a couple minutes I tried not to laugh, and then I said,
"By the time you get where you're going, you won't have listened to anything."
"Thankfully, I have a far way to go," he replied.
"How far?" I asked. He looked up.
"Kew Gardens. 'Bout 40 minutes." Then, tugging at a knot, he added, "If I fail, I'll just borrow yours."
I laughed and went back to listening to my music. Amused, I was turning this interaction over in my head when I looked up and noticed that we were at my stop. Startled, I leaped up and darted off the train, relieved that I beat the doors. Turning around, I saw him staring at me. Thinking I must have looked ridiculous, I awkwardly threw my hand up and waved goodbye. As I turned and started to walk away, laughing, I heard a sound behind me. Looking behind me, I saw that he had leaped off the train and was now standing on the platform, looking at me like a deer caught in headlights. As we regarded each other, the doors swooshed shut and the train started to pull away.
"Er, uh, did you hear something I didn't?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" I smiled.
"Like an announcement. Did you know something I didn't?"
"Hmm, no," I said, laughing. "I just hadn't realized it was my stop."
"Oh, shoot!" he yelled, gesturing at the departing train.
"It's okay," I said. "I'll wait with you."
We chatted for a few minutes, and when the next train came, he got on it. But for the briefest moment, he looked like he might not. His name was Jason. I almost asked him if he wanted to go out for a drink, on the spot, because, well, why not? I don't know anybody. I might have made a friend. Alas, I did not. But I kind of hoped I'd run into him again... however, the odds of that happening in a city of 8.5 million people? Well, they're slim.
I don't think he thought he missed an announcement.
I think he jumped off to talk to me more.
[smiles] Aw.
Tonight I move into a new apartment. My roommate is a 34-year-old music journalist turned illustrator. She's looking for a temporary roomie to split rent while she works on a children's book from home. So I can fill the bill until spring. Her place is great. It's pretty big with hardwood floors, it's clean, and it's decorated in entirety to look retro. My room is 11' x 11' with hardwood floors, big windows, and a big closet with custom shelving. The neighborhood is beautiful and the commute to Manhattan is short. The only downside? My room - and I'm not kidding - is bubblegum pink. Yes, you read correctly. Pink. Super, ultra Barbie pink. I guess it's the base coat of a larger, artistic, comic book-themed idea my roommate has for the room, but right now, it just looks like a My Little Pony threw up in there. It catches the light very nicely though. Perhaps even blindingly so [laughs].
Anyway, tonight I'm hiring a car service to help me transfer my stuff from Long Island City to East Elmhurst. I look forward to the fresh start.
Now if only I didn't lose my wallet, which contained many things, including: a $300 check, my ATM card, my license, and my original social security card. Seriously, it's an identity-theft starter kit. And now I'm locked out of my bank accounts because, without ANY form of ID, I could just as easily be the person who stole my wallet as I am the person who lost it. So, for the time being, I am a nameless, wandering human being. Hopefully nothing happens to me between now and when I get a new license because they'll have to check my dental records for identification... or wait until my face shows up on a milk carton and connect the dots.
Hm. I wonder who could be me right now.
