Notes on the Subway

October 18, 1993 - The red neon sign is flashing through the windows on the subway, the subway, the subway, what a glorious contraption for life's goings on and everyone taking everything so seriously, especially their hair and their nylons facing away from their crotch.  An uncomfortable feeling I know - does everyone hate that or is it just my nylons that fall down around my knees in the middle of the day? Who knows how many of us slip into the closet to tug them up when no one is looking. Hoe hee we muse along.  Back on the subway, blank stares, stopping and starting, standing clear of the closing doors that do not re-open like elevator doors. 59th St. next, mine is 72nd St. tonight because I am going to Woolworth - yee haw! 

Photo by one daaaangerous easter egg

                                                                                      

    

Sitting once again on the train of absurdity, a girl is wearing sunglasses. Why do some people wear sunglasses on the train? A man is screaming at the doors, maybe they will hear him and hold for him, because subway doors do not reopen like elevator doors. 23rd St. is next, this morning the trip is going fast, too bad because I am so tired and I really would rather be in bed dreaming of living instead of living. Yet living is all we have I guess so- He just blew his nose on the train, or rather, she did, the one with the sunglasses. 

Photo by Jonathan Tramontano

The mother is twisting the daughter's hair around her fingertip, remembering when own hair was soft and fine once and it made a perfect little curl, of this I'm not sure but it's what you expect isn't it? And on we go eating, reading, staring, reading and laughing and tap dancing - tap dancing on the subway is a difficult task but she did it, with a smile on her face and dried blood on her only white pants. How did she lose those teeth you wonder, how can she smile you wonder, who is she, could she be you, somewhere underneath it all, the makeup - the hair - the Woolworth lamp shade, could she be you?

Photo by Susan & her 5d