every so often, the subway conductor is also a commentator /preacher/host. sometimes they have two cents to share (so many two cents). saturday night, riding up town, this person really went on and on. the train was running express instead of local when it doesn’t usually. don’t let us forget it! look around, the conductor said. pay attention, look around at the signs in the stations. download the MTA app! most poignantly: if you get lost, ask somebody.
the schedules and routes are different on the weekends. everybody knows this! but not everybody knows this. remember when you didn’t know this?
underneath his words i heard him say, the way can be difficult and i care about you. if you get confused, someone has passed this way before and they can probably lend you a hand.
and don’t forget your umbrella, the conductor said. it will be raining later. what i also heard: take care.
a part of me experienced his chatter as extra, slightly irksome even. and it was extra: he was going above and beyond. practicing radical hospitality, going the distance emotionally while we went the distance under the city.