It reminded me of my younger days trading baseball cards. One would go through his cards and the other - looking on - would say "got 'im. got 'im. got 'im, need 'im, got 'im."
1
This reminds me of a whole day I spent in line in 1989, for tickets to the Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night. My friend Christie was at work that day, so I waited among strangers who became friends as the day grew long and very warm. We sat in a long line that snaked across a large open space, took turns going on food and water runs, and when my jeans proved too hot we shopped a local thrift store for a change of clothes. In the end, we all got tickets and the play was terrific - but what I remember best is the impromptu fun of waiting in line.
7
Hurry-up and wait! The ever-present New York lines, standing outside ball parks, at subways, theaters, movies. Just a part of daily life. Once you stop resisting and embrace it--once you start making the best of it and building it into your schedule--it is much less bothersome. At that point you can stop thinking of it a dead and wasted time, and enjoy watching and communicating with your neighbors. You did just that Jennifer--thanks for sharing the story.
10
Yes, very New York, especially standing in line. We never stand on line.
7
We stand in line. But we don't talk to strangers.
1
I beg to differ Kirby. I'm from Australia and the 5 times I've been to NYC people have always been happy to engage while queuing for tickets, etc. Maybe they weren't native New Yorkers?
1
"Nice" story. Hilarious. Sweet. Well-written.
10
I echo your mom’s sentiment Jennifer— how very New York indeed! Making friends while standing in line, talking, sharing, enjoying good company and congenial conversation. And I loved that you highlighted that neither age nor ethnicity mattered in the least. How civilized, how lovely, how New York. Thank you for such a happy and positive Diary entry to begin the week. I’m glad you ended up with the complete set of David Bowie MetroCards.
27
I often engage folks in conversation everywhere and anywhere, but find increasingly difficulty to do because they are exclusively attached to their phones. What a shame. Makes such situations as described nearly impossible. Hurrah for connection the old fashioned way...talking in person!
30
Jojo, I feel the same! I, too, like to engage sometimes with strangers, whether to respond to a shared experience, a joke, to have a person-to-person moment (or to say "excuse me" on the subway), and the ubiquitous ear buds make me sad and yearn for another time.
Keep trying TBH!