My Train Commute

After many years of working in the suburbs, it was most difficult to adjust to the long train commute to the city.

Seasoned commuters would argue that half hour or forty minutes on the train is not that long but hey, any journey more than twenty minutes is considered long for me these days. The last time I took the train to the city for a concert, I had back ache from sitting too long. 

I had almost forgotten what it was like squeezing with the crowd in a train, fighting for standing space next to a handrail because I am too short to reach the handles that hang from the top. Not to mention stepping over bags and feet during my hasty exit at my stop. 

These days, almost 90% of the people use some form of tablet and touch phone during their journey. The rest are sleepers, catching up on their sleep. No one reads a physical book anymore. So when I took out a book, the paper kind, the 90's kid sitting in front of me made no effort to hide her puzzlement. A book?! Which era are you from?!

Some things do not change though. Like the two trains which were cancelled last week, and causing a delay or more than 15 minutes to my journey. I also saw a familiar commuter. We never spoke but I have a strong memory of him because he and his girlfriend used to exchange their declarations of love very publicly in the station while waiting for the train. His girlfriend is nowhere to be seen, but he is still wearing the blue jacket he used to wear from years ago.