Ms. Cranky wonders about the closed MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) booths where customers could get Metro cards, maps, information and actual help. She knows it is a ‘money thing’ but was baffled once again last Friday evening when she came home from the Adirondack Mountains lugging her stuff and was confronted with no booth or help available in, of all places, Penn Station. How can this be? It’s bustling, it’s a tourist mecca and our city always claims it needs tourists. Cranky can’t tell you the number of times she’s rescued stranded tourists who couldn’t figure out the Metro card machine, who needed directions, etc. and were getting fed up. It’s baffling. Here of all places where an MTA booth could help the city make money.
But this story is Ms. Cranky’s own. She had come home from the Adirondack Mountains by car and train, about a 6 hour trip. She was covered with bug bites, (someone loves her) and carrying a bunch of luggage. Next to the Long Island Railroad and below the AMTRAK Station, going into the subway was incredibly hot. And, now Cranky was finally nearing the “A” train and a subway trip home where she was longing to be but her Metro card stuck in the slot at the turnstile. This often happens, especially when the turnstiles haven’t been cleaned, you can actually feel your card stick as you go to swipe it but the MTA rule is to keep on trying at that particular turnstile which Ms. Cranky did, over and over. Her biggest suitcase was already pushed under and on the other side. But, the slot wouldn’t let her go through, it stuck and stuck so she did what she knew was a sin with a capital “S,” she tried the next area and got the error message, “already used” which means you are stuck waiting 18 minutes until you can try your card again.
In other stations like at Borough Hall # 4 and #5 stations, when this happens as it did a lot last winter when Cranky was teaching in the Bronx, there is a booth and an attendant who can look at your card, see that it’s valid, and let you go through. But, not here at big time Penn Station. You’re just stuck after a 6 hour trip from up north with your luggage, the awful heat and Cranky guesses you’re supposed to lean against a wall and wait, there’s sure no place to sit.
Cranky was sad. She goes to this wonderful Writers’ Retreat every year but mid-week this year, she got homesick and then sick sick and all she wanted to do now, at 7 on a Friday evening, was go home, touch her cat, see her beautiful flowers and be in that most wonderfully named place of all --- home.
So, now she pulled her bag back and under and was upset that she would have to wait 18 minutes in this sticky atmosphere.
Cranky must have looked real discouraged because this lovely young man just ‘arrived’ at her side and asked if he could help her, thinking she needed help getting her bags through. She said, “No, my card stuck 6 times and now I have to wait 18 minutes to use it again.” He was, in fact, also really very nice looking, something Cranky couldn’t help but notice even in her upset state.
The young man went easily through a turnstile and Cranky thought that was that when suddenly she heard a loud buzzer noise and someone hollering and looked to see that he had gone in, gone over to the emergency door, opened it and was now beckoning Ms. Cranky to sneak in that way.
Which, she did without thinking and Cranky is terrified of police and jail and such, but she really wanted to be HOME. No hand arrived on her shoulder, and she didn’t land in jail, thank heavens. She thanked the young man profusely, he didn’t have to do that and he went on his way and Cranky lugged her stuff up the stairs to wait for the subway.
Anyway, it wasn’t really cheating as Cranky has a monthly unlimited card for all her roaming about. She can’t help it if the slots aren’t always clean.
Thank you kind and most handsome young man. Ms. Cranky usually does not concentrate on superficial things like looks but she couldn’t help but notice and, not only was the man most attractive but he was kind and caring as well which makes a person much more beautiful.
Dear MTA and Mayor Bloomberg --- what is it with this decision to close the ticket booth at, of all places, Penn Station? Hire me, I’ll greet and direct and help people and they’ll spend more money and want to come back to our wonderful city. But, could I have one of those little portable fans on my shoulder?
Hey, thanks for stopping by. Ms. Cranky hopes that your little and big roamings are pleasant and that you too will be aided by a stranger or a friend is fine too. Thank you kind and thoughtful stranger!!!
Ms. Cranky, August 8, 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment