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wrong side of the tracks
Jul. 10th, 2008 10:12 pmI'm uncomfortably aware that I live on the wrong side of the commuter rail tracks that go through West Medford. My apartment is not in an unpleasant neighborhood, and I don't think the Medford library is better than the one in Arlington (though they have some good sf, and I should spend more time there). It's just that if I lived on the other side of the tracks, I would not have to cross the tracks to catch the train in the morning.
A couple of times so far, I was hurrying to the station when I heard the whistle.* This presents the choice between running across the tracks, in front of the train, or waiting a full hour for the next one. When I was early or the train was late, I timed it, so I know there's 70 seconds between the whistle and the train arriving...but it's a nerve-wracking 70 seconds. One of my fellow commuters lives on the other side of the tracks. I've never seen him before hearing the train whistle. I think he lives close enough to just sprint for the fence and jump over. I don't know if he works in health care, or if he wears scrubs as pajamas. I suppose it's a nerve-wracking 70 seconds for him, too.
*I love Malvina Reynolds, but she's wrong--train whistles don't make anything like a sleepy noise. Furthermore, one can SO make a turtle come out. It just takes a while.
A couple of times so far, I was hurrying to the station when I heard the whistle.* This presents the choice between running across the tracks, in front of the train, or waiting a full hour for the next one. When I was early or the train was late, I timed it, so I know there's 70 seconds between the whistle and the train arriving...but it's a nerve-wracking 70 seconds. One of my fellow commuters lives on the other side of the tracks. I've never seen him before hearing the train whistle. I think he lives close enough to just sprint for the fence and jump over. I don't know if he works in health care, or if he wears scrubs as pajamas. I suppose it's a nerve-wracking 70 seconds for him, too.
*I love Malvina Reynolds, but she's wrong--train whistles don't make anything like a sleepy noise. Furthermore, one can SO make a turtle come out. It just takes a while.
