feed my desire
My train home was initially supposed to leave at 8.44 pm. The 148 going from New Haven to Hartford on its way to Springfield. The train did not arrive until an hour later and even then it was a different one than indicated on my ticket. I didn't much mind as text messages from Amtrak warned that I'd be held at Union Station in New Haven for at least another half hour.
As we pulled out of New Haven, the conductor explained why there had been so many delays this evening. Indeed, the board at Union Station was alight with "Delayed" notices. 2 hours late. 2 hours 15 mins late. 3 hours late. In a voice trying very hard not to reveal the full extent of its despair, the conductor told this not-too-crowded train that there had been a suicide. He remarked on this particular time of year, and family, and for some time after, the train car was quiet.
Mom is on her way to work right now. I won't see her until tomorrow when the meal is made. My youngest sister will be driving in tomorrow morning. A woman who has managed quite effortlessly to keep me smiling this entire week is flying south to see family. My brother will be waiting for me at home. With his Xbox.
This time of year...
Sometimes, it's like watching a fight. You watch boxing enough times, you're bound to see a ring death. You go through enough Thanksgivings and Christmases and birthdays and eventually you're bound to come across one of these announcements. Whether spoken over a loudspeaker or murmured into a kerchief. Whether written in an email, whether said over the phone.
I hope all of us make it to where we're going safely. And that who we hope will be there waiting for us will be there waiting for us.
As we pulled out of New Haven, the conductor explained why there had been so many delays this evening. Indeed, the board at Union Station was alight with "Delayed" notices. 2 hours late. 2 hours 15 mins late. 3 hours late. In a voice trying very hard not to reveal the full extent of its despair, the conductor told this not-too-crowded train that there had been a suicide. He remarked on this particular time of year, and family, and for some time after, the train car was quiet.
Mom is on her way to work right now. I won't see her until tomorrow when the meal is made. My youngest sister will be driving in tomorrow morning. A woman who has managed quite effortlessly to keep me smiling this entire week is flying south to see family. My brother will be waiting for me at home. With his Xbox.
This time of year...
Sometimes, it's like watching a fight. You watch boxing enough times, you're bound to see a ring death. You go through enough Thanksgivings and Christmases and birthdays and eventually you're bound to come across one of these announcements. Whether spoken over a loudspeaker or murmured into a kerchief. Whether written in an email, whether said over the phone.
I hope all of us make it to where we're going safely. And that who we hope will be there waiting for us will be there waiting for us.