Walking in Puddles

Today it rained....a whole lot.  The windy kind of rain that blows your brand new designer umbrella inside out. This morning Bart was delayed and so it was already packed to the gills by the time I got on. As I squeezed onto the 1st car I was engulfed by the sweltering heat and the smell of wet commuters. The lady next to me said it was "body heat" Well maybe, but I think the driver just turned the heat up too high. On a rainy day there is nothing I like more than a slow, hot ride on a crowded Bart train.  We were packed in tight standing only inches apart.  Dirty windows misty and fogged up left no choice but to look into the eyes of person next to you, even though you didn't really want to.  Some younger people were able to "text while standing" and some riders clung to the overhead hangers and pretended to read. Unfortunately I have not mastered either skill so I closed my eyes and tried to enjoy some James Taylor on my IPod. To make matters worse we had to "single track" under the bay so the ride was stop and go. And not a s-l-o-w, smooth, stop & go but an abrupt stop & go. The kind that slowly lurches you forward and then quickly jerks you back! Right into the end of the umbrella....attached to person standing next to you. As an extra bonus if you are short statured you will probably find yourself staring into the armpits of some stranger as well. And like clockwork, several minutes before we get to my station a herd of people begin pushing toward the door, making it even more difficult to stand. I don't get why there is always this mad dash to be the 1st to exit the train. If you really want to get out of the station fast, try walking up the 3 flights of stairs instead of taking the slow, over crowded escalator. The homeless man who usually stands outside, at the top of the escalator to greet us EVERY day with his sign and his begging cup was waiting for us inside the station today. I don't think he has a designer umbrella. I walked outside the station and "just like that" my umbrella was inside out. I walked to the corner and stepped off the curb right into a big downtown, San Francisco, Market St size puddle. I was ready for it though. I had on my rubber boots. You gotta love the rain!

I'm Just Sayin