Subway Sleepers

Mr. Sandman...Listen. You may only bring nightmares to subway sleepers.  When did it become appropriate to take a big deep REM sleep on a complete strangers shoulder? I don't recall any type of notification from the MTA about mandatory cuddling therefore I refuse to accept these slick attempts to get semi - cozy with some strange/strange looking person. We all know the attractive group is wide awake and are not down for invasion of their personal space. Wikipedia states - Personal space is the region surrounding a person which they regard as psychologically theirs.

Most people value their personal space and feel discomfort, anger, or anxiety when their personal space is encroached. I'm pretty sure sleeping on the train sounds fine to some people and if this is the case for you, You may be a subway sleeper yourself. Subway sleepers can be placed into  three categories
The Open Mouthers :

These individuals usually keep composure, head laid back mouth wide open the least threatening of all the subway sleepers but these are the ones that will most definitely miss their stop. They are usually seen in the morning looking tired and mean usually from a lack of sleep.

Next we have the Rocka my babies:

These are the most annoying of all subway sleepers, however not the most threatening, this type of sleeper sways from side to side never completely falling asleep. They may bump into you occasionally , apologize but continue to rock away until their appointed stop where they will host their own mini stampede off the train right before the door closes. They are usually coming from work, tired and have no intentions dozing but sleep gets the best of them. 

Finally we have the Goodnighters: 

Characteristics of a good nighter - snoring and or drooling, these sleepers are usually willing to sleep on a strangers shoulder, but most times they will try clever tactics to sleep, like placing their face in their own lap, sleeping their face against the pole or trying to use the side bars to lean on while they doze. What makes the good nighter the most threatening sleeper is not the fact that they snore or drool, But the fact that these sleepers are prone to falling at any time. Now what's worst that you heading to or from your destination on a -Monday (everyone is pissed on Mondays), and some random sleeping person invades your personal space?  And to make matters worse they will most likely have an attitude if you dare to nudge them or bring some attention to their sleepy situation, they may even be willing to fight,but commutable already addressed subway fighting.

My solution to sub-sleepers? Just move, find another spot or get ready to cozy up with the unattractives, and let me reiterate the fact that cuties don't cuddle.  

SSP

Riding with racism

 Do you ride public transportation?  then racism rides with you, the subway is one of the few places where every single race congregates with one main goal - to get to where the hell they need to be, and with that said "lets talk about race baby”. Since the beginning of time people tend to feel the most comfort amongst their own culture. Almost every ethnicity seem to have their specific places that they get on or off buses and trains. Most African Americans heading to or from Brooklyn are usually from the caribbean or of caribbean decent. 125th street is sprinkled with Hispanics. And Canal Street is where you might find your Asian persuasions. Where ever you get on or off I'm pretty sure it's well within your comfort zone without you even noticing. But lets take it a little deeper, I've heard stories about individuals from one race not accepting a seat from a person of another race, random outbursts from one race against another in regards to oppression (there is a time and place for everything, and while I am riding to or from work, does not include the time when I need to hear tales from the slave ship/ sorry). There are rumors about which race is more swift when it comes to finding a space to sit. Everyone is guilty of seeing someone enter the train and thought – “hey what are you doing around these parts”, while shaking your head. Personally I have seen a dispute between an African American woman and a Hispanic woman. The Hispanic woman had a stroller with a young child and was offered a seat that was cleverly nabbed by the African American woman then things got heated. As they argued back and forth about who was wrong or right, we all sided with the mother of the child until she yelled "do you think I am afraid of you.. Why should I be afraid, because you're BLACK?" Whoa… Racism is that you? I was at a loss for thoughts, the black comment stuck with me for a while until a homeless bum decided he had enough yelled for both women to shut it. It only expresses the fact that racism lays dormant in our thoughts until our limits get tested. Most individuals would never admit to being racist, even to themselves, but would not dare sit next to any other race while commuting. But if there is no identification, there can be no solution.

Here are a few Stereotypes that are interesting and funny but not necessarily true.

·         All Asians rush for seats

·         All whites get off at 86th street uptown6

·         All Asians get off at canal all

·         All Hispanics get off at 125th street

·         All mean looking black people want to fight ... No, wait. Be careful.

·         All African Americans eating beef patties on the train is Jamaican.

·         All white people like to take their bikes on train.

It's ironic how something as simple as commuting brings so many together yet still we remain segregated. “Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason”- www.finestquotes.com

SSP.

Down but not out!

At 5 pm Sunday October 28th I recall sipping memosas with close friends and family while rumors of hurricane Sandy were met with a smirk. An immediate comparison to hurricane Irene was almost inevitable, Hurricane Irene could be described as a barrage of scattered showers, it was nothing more than  slight annoyance to the average New Yorker. Sandy had already ravished a few Caribbean countries but somehow the news got lost between our political debates policies and proposals.Today (November 3rd) i'm riding the train for the first time since the Super storm and I flashback to when we all played with the idea of not heading to work that Monday and how happy it made us,little did we know the irony was about to be lost on us. Sandy's morning started off cloudy with loud winds that were growing increasingly violent. the windows struggled under the pressure and trees fought the breeze with all they had.The storm was a moving force of destruction with winds at 80 miles per hour , it hit land around 6:30 pm wreaking havoc on New York city, flooding homes,subways, almost 100 thousand without power not to mention the precious lives lost. Sadness and an immediate sense of helplessness was now upon us. New York - A city so Vibrant and feisty was now heartbroken,humble,and for the first time in a long time- quiet.Efforts for relief was instant but hardly sufficient , the storm was underestimated and this came at a devastating cost. 

   
Express additional patience and humility while commuting my people, remember - we may be wounded but we made it, and we may  have been in different locations when the storm hit, but we all still faced it together.
SSP.