When I first moved to Toronto last April, I got to see the subway for the first time. I’ll admit, I didn’t know what to make of it, or what to expect. To be honest I was a bit afraid it was an evil lair of thieves and muggers, I thought I could easily loose my wallet on the subway. After hearing stories about New York’s subway, like the roving gangs of Mexican organ traders, you could understand my apprehension.
Unexpectedly to me, the subway is really fast and big and loud. When waiting for a train, all you hear is a rumble on par with a minor earthquake (rationally I told myself it’s not an earthquake, but I come form the west coast). Then suddenly a really fast shiny metal train blasts through the entrance screaming as the breaks grind the beast down to a full stop, your hair whipping around your head as the great volume of air the train suddenly displaced is thrown at you.
HOLY CRAP! What was that?? You expect me to use that every day? It is impressive to say the least. Never has mass transit been so powerful and frightening! The chime of the doors is enough to inflict fear into the weary traveler.
Today, in my 6th month of daily travel on the subway, I realized that the subway had lost its influence on me. I don’t hear the rumbling of the track, or notice the break-neck speed of its arrival. All I want is to get in and find a seat. I’ve never been mugged or accosted in any way. In fact the travelers have been nothing but polite and I’ve even dozed off occasionally.
I did something different today however. I went to the very front of the train and sat at the window. I did this when I arrived, but I haven’t bothered since. You have to crank your head around to look out and it’s uncomfortable, but the view of the tracks coming at you in a hazy blur with only the headlights to illuminate the fast moving gloom is great. It made me think of the first time I saw the subway and I actually got that rush of excitement again.
My sister will be arriving in town soon to visit, It will be neat to see how she reacts to it.
