Not your average commute

I’ve been slowly shifting my schedule of when I go into work. I’ve been catching an earlier bus each morning. Although more crowded, it feels like I get into work faster. Although, I just noticed this morning, it still takes me about an hour. I grabbed a seat yesterday next to a fellow and opened up my book. I do have to say, for good or bad, there a more and more of the ebook tablets in the hands of my fellow commuters. My neighbor had one and I glanced over to see what he was reading before diving into my own book. (Side note: I was reading “March” by Geraldine Brooks and although an interesting tale and some parts of the story will stay with me long past the reading of the book, I didn’t think it warranted the Pulitzer Prize. Still - a fast read if you are looking for a book).

I forget the title but it was something like thermodynamics. On the page was text but also higher-level equations. My initial thought was it must be interesting but a dry read for the commute. I learned in my early twenties that although I love the Russians, they were not meant to accompany me on my daily commute - hard to give the requisite attention required.

And then I find my place on the subway train and am about to dive back into my book when I glance over to my new neighbor. He, thankfully, is reading a good old fashioned paper based book (I’m a bit of a luddite when it comes to the ebooks). And strikingly, on his page is text and higher-level equations - more square roots and a bit of calculus thrown in.

And if that wasn’t enough, on my bus ride home that same night, once again I’m about to pick up my book and finish off the last chapter when I realize the two ladies in front of me are animatedly discussing the latest episode of “Downton Abbey”. I had held off watching this show on PBS, mainly because I missed the first few episodes and never really got into “Upstairs Downstairs” - a similar PBS show from an earlier era. But this month, I caught up on season one from last year and the first chunk of season two that started airing in January. And I’m hooked - only one more episode to go and then it’s all over - until season 3 starts up. It’s quite a well-written series and a classic PBS quality period piece even if it is a glorified soap opera.

The events were interesting book ends to the day and a far cry from what some of my colleagues face on their daily commute. I definitely have one of the higher-brow/more educated commutes.