C'mon ride the train...

There's been a lot on my mind lately, and I'm still sorting out the right words to express some or all of what I want to say. I realize that my blogging has been sporadic at best, and well, I guess that's what its got to be for now. Granted I'm not nearly as prolific a writer as some of my fellow bloggers, nor am I that bad either that I can't even put up a decent post every once and then, right??

Any event, before I completely lose you on this one, I have to tell a story. Those of you who know me, know that I like to tell stories - Ellie's always got a story - more often than not its a long, winded version that could've easily been summed up in eight words or less...but what's the fun in that?

A story needs to be told, with expression, passion, devotion, imagination, details, an occasional elaboration of truth (read as a "stretching" of details) and lest we forget - a smile.

Here's my story, as brief as it is, and irrelevant as to the aforementioned details above...

This past Monday around 5:30 I find myself on the crowded, cramped, exhausting ride on the TTC subway heading up north to the Hill... Having had to stand a fair bit of the way (I'm going to hate being kept in class until precisely 5pm Mondays) - I finally get to sit down at the York Mills station (coming up from Bloor). I grab a seat next to a lovely, snoring, somewhat smelly lady and out of nowhere, a rather attractive brunette, well tailored etc sits down in front of me. As I gaze at her profile, I find myself thinking "hey, this girl's really cute....I wonder if she's Jewish..I think she is...hmm, got the 'nose' down..but, that could be just a Semitic trait (read "Arabic")...." - y'know how I am about the Jewish ladies...

Anyhoo, yeah that's right I said anyhoo (twice), I'm sitting there and I notice she's picking at her fingers, ripping the skin around the nail-area - granted this is a disgusting and "improper" set of behaviour for a woman (or man), but as a fellow nail-biter/ripper, I couldn't help but laugh (inside). I'm sitting there watching her have a good go at it - and I glanced down at my relatively deformed digits, thinking that at least she won't find my hands "nasty" per se.

Then, out of nowhere, I hear my mother's voice in my head "stop ripping!!!" - my heart began racing a bit faster (I think it's b/c of the gathering nerve of actually talking to a stranger on the TTC)...and before I know it my mouth has decided that its time for some "conversation"...I'm actually going to attempt to pick this chick up (ya, I said chick)!!

So what clever bit of conversation do I start with?? "That's a bad habit" I say to this startled cutie (and if you're reading this _______ I'm leaving your name out of it :O) ) - she nervously and rather shockingly stops her picking and hides her hands by her side...I smile at her and say "that's ok, I do it too..." and show her my masochistic artwork...

She smiles and says "I think I've got you covered though" - we begin talking, two complete strangers, kind of like in the movies, only in the back of my mind a few pressing questions need to be answered...and here we are at North York stop with only one to go...Quick, get a name...Check! Dude, is she Jewish...drop the subtle language hints (schmuck, oy, schlep..etc...) try "Jewish Geography" - how the hell did we end up talking about other Yids in the City??

And, then...the sad reality sets in...the dreaded words a guy doesn't particularly want to hear when he's "picking up"..... MY BOYFRIEND... shit - game over!! OK, don't show her your disappointment...keep talkin' "hmm yeah, that's nice, uhuh...yep, yep..." the words are just skimming by my ears, in one, out the other...how long is it 'til I get to the car... wait, we're walking in the same direction - ok keep it going, maybe they're on the verge of breaking up???

Nope...no breaking up...nice job though back there, flattering her (accidental as it was) with the guessing of the age (she really did look 24 - who knew she's 29...) oh well...it was for naught.

Ne'er fear though at least you talked to her, right? Right! No phone number or anything like that, a smile here and a smile there...a genuine handshake goodbye and...well, that was Monday.

I guess that's a step though, right?

Anyways, that's the "story" - more for my amusement than yours...all I can say is that once in a while riding the TTC can indeed be the "better way".

PEACE
Done.

EM