Thursday, November 18, 2004

I probably should have bought that nice umbrella I saw at Target.

I live in Burr Ridge. My job is in Chicago. It turns out that’s a distance of 20 miles. That may not seem like that far, but it is when you have to drive it every morning. Through rush hour traffic. And you have to find somewhere to park when you’re there.

So I’ve opted to go mass transit. I take the train every day to work and back.

It has not been a good relationship.

Last night I fell asleep on the ride home. I woke up in an empty passenger car parked on a sidetrack. I had missed my drop by five stops. I was three towns over from where I should have been. I managed to find a conductor and he was nice enough to arrange for the train to make an unscheduled stop on their way back to Chicago.

I was the one solitary passenger in a train of ten cars. It’s enough to make someone feel really important. Or really embarrassed. I went with the latter. They let me off in Hinsdale, and I vowed never to do it again.

Well, it happened again tonight.

This time, I really didn’t want to go and find the conductor so I could explain to him that I managed to sleep through my stop two days in a row. Without thinking, I just walked off the car, stood at the station, and watched the train roll away. Ten cars completely passenger-free.

I was in Downers Grove. My car was in Hinsdale. It turns out that’s a distance of five miles. That may not seem like that far, but it is when you’re walking. At night. In the rain. And you don’t have an umbrella.

I know I could have waited for the next train to Hinsdale, but it wouldn’t come by for another hour. I know I could have called someone to come and pick me up, but I don’t have a cell phone. I know I could have managed to find a pay phone instead, but I don’t know anyone’s numbers by heart except my own home phone, and my parents happen to be in the Philippines for two weeks. So I figured the only way back to my car was by foot.

It took me almost two hours. In retrospect, I should have just waited for the next train.

At least it was an educational experience. I learned quite a few things during my trek:

1. There is no single road or sidewalk that runs parallel to the tracks that go from Downers Grove to Hinsdale. I was zigzagging from road to road trying to stay as close to the tracks as possible so I wouldn’t get lost. Somehow, while following some street, I managed to get seven or so blocks off course before I realized how faint the sounds of trains were.

2. Even in the suburbs, dimly-lit back streets are scary as hell. Every step of the way, I was sure I was going to get mugged. The fact that I was carrying all of my stuff in a lap-top bag didn’t help my nerves much either.

3. Cats will not befriend you for a distance greater than two meters. For some reason, someone’s pet came up and sat beside me during the walk. I talked to it for a bit, but was unable to convince it to accompany me on the rest of my journey.

4. Uncle Francis’ dental office closes sometime before 7pm. His office is right along the train tracks and halfway between where I started and where I was going. All the way there, I was hoping he or Auntie Nona could give me a ride for the rest of the way. I arrived to find the lights out and proceeded to curse to myself.

5. My Sketchers were not designed for walks of any sizeable distance. Almost from the start, my feet started to hurt. I have at least five blisters on my feet. My toes aint quite so pretty no more.

6. Two hours of walking in cold rain is enough to make you delirious. After a while, I started staggering like a drunkard and began talking to myself. The conversation consisted mainly of me telling myself I’m a damned idiot.

After this whole fiasco, I’ve decided to make two changes. For one, I’m bringing a book or something to keep the old brain awake for the thirty minutes train ride. Perhaps I’ll subscribe to Maxim. Secondly, I’m going to have to get a mobile phone. I’ve been standing firm against getting a cell for quite some time now, but I don’t think I can hold out anymore.

I suppose not dying alone on the side of the road is worth the monthly fees.