I take the 5:40 train into New York city. I do this every morning. Sometimes it’s a joy and sometimes it’s a drag. It’s a drag when I’m standing in my cluster next to the conservative who’s is going to tell me, again, what is wrong with the country and how it’s all Obama’s fault and did I listen to Rush Limbaugh yesterday morning? He knows damn well that I did not. At least not without wanting to toss the damn thing out the window. Some mornings I feel like tossing a conservative under a passing train. but in reality I would never do such a thing, but it’s nice to dream.
I get to Grand Central station at 6:50 AM and walk to my job at Park Ave. and 54th St. I do concierge and valet work at one of the many social clubs in the area. It’s a mindless job dealing with the wants and needs of the wealthy.
Hotel reservations
Dining Reservations
Theater tickets.
Car Service.
Haberdashery items
You’d like to purchase a belt, sir. A size 36? Here you go. sir. What? It doesn’t fit. But I assure you, sir, it is a 36. It’s right on the belt. A misprint you say? No way you could be bigger than a 36? Right you are, sir, let me give you a misprinted 48. (I don’t say that. I’d be out of a job.) There how about that? Fits just fine? I’m so glad.
I go through many such trivial matters throughout the course of the day before catching the 4:45 train home to Cold Spring in the Hudson Valley. It’s a lovely artsy-fartsy community with a quaint old vibe to it. It suits us just fine. On Saturday evening on Main Street you may fine my wife and I parked in our Adirondack chairs with ukuleles at the ready. Cocktails and ukuleles and no work the next day puts us in a good mood. I started playing one of my wife’s ukulele because
I found that you can’t play guitar in an Adirondack chair. At least not without one of you getting hurt. My wife suggested a chair with no arms, but that would kill the whole outdoor sitting in an Adirondack chair having cocktails while playing the ukulele mood.
Then it’s off to bed in a boozy, but happy frame of mind.
Sunday morning awaits and it’s newspapers and pancakes or newspapers and omelets. Sometimes, though, I just prefer the comic section and coffee. A no news Sunday I like to call it. Give my thoughts a break. Better for the blood pressure and mental health.
So I am hereafter proclaing Sundays an official Comics and coffee day. Love the one your with. Wave to your neighbors. Climb a tree. Row a boat and, yes, play a ukulele. You’ll be the better for it. Because they’ll always be a Monday morning 5:40 train in the near future. And write, write, write. It’s good for the soul. Peace on you all.
Comments
Cavalcaderl | August 13, 2011 - 21:57
new Hudsonmoon
Tackled, good one for (IP)
What a busy day, and belt fittings.
Love Ukulele's my friend of many year's,
still tries to play after stroke etc;
Brighton's People's day here and bands playing
etc; one on all ukulele all females, first time.
Beautiful sound. And harp,and Banjo.All instruments
are great aren't they. Comic and coffee day, I like sound of that. paper's show a painter female painting with coffee! mixed I think, Mona Lisa,holding cup of frothy coffe! in paper before, pictures give brown tinge! of all. Peace and blessings to you. "If music be the food of life then play on". Keep writing.
julie x
hudsonmoon | August 13, 2011 - 22:02
I like the sound of that, Julie. Your comments make a good IP it self. I like.
Rich
Cavalcaderl | August 14, 2011 - 08:20
new hudsonmoon
Oh! Gee. What a compliment. Well you could
do that for me,or mention please maybe send it you could to.Thanks.
Editor t.cook (IP) copy or bits, you like.
As Editor asking ideas. It's your idea.
Can't write like you, by reading other's,
great writing and poem's, looking at nature
and the world helps me.
Thankyou keeps your's posted and writing
I have 2nd hand book 50p charity re; Mona Lisa
Very interesting. But my belated pop, under age
60 when d. But could play, accordion.violin,piano.
Plus the spoons.
Six of us never were as clever pick up. In sharing
we learn. Cloudy here, was going listen to ooompah
band forgotten name, trumpet's. Playing in Pavilion
lawns sunday's. Enjoying your stories, and all.
Have a good sunday. Given church long break, so see beauty and thing's of the world. Nature.
julie x
maggyvaneijk | August 14, 2011 - 09:12
I loved this very well written window into your life. The bit about how you can't play guitar in an Adirondack chair was great :)
Highhat | August 14, 2011 - 10:52
a nice one for the IP- what a long working day!
hudsonmoon | August 14, 2011 - 19:05
It is a long commute, Pia. I only work from 730 to 330. But with the train commute it's a 12 hour day. But it's a beautiful train ride. The train snakes through Hudson Valley, hugging the Hudson river for good measure. How many people can say they pass through places like Sleepy Hollow and Sing Sing prison everyday? Headless horseman, Washington Irving and Al Capone. Then I get to pass through 125th Street in Harlem. Home of the famed Apollo theater: James Brown, Billy Holiday and Duke Ellington. Then I get to end up at Grand Central Station. One of the Grandest spots in all of New York City. Parts of Alfred Hitchcock's North By Northwest was fimed here. I got to see Robert Di Niro and Meryl Streep film a scene from some long forgotten movie. On my walk to work I pass the Waldorf Astoria. And one of my favorite spots on my way to work is on Park Avenue and 52nd Street where they filmed a scene from one of my favorite movies Breakfast at Tiffanys. So I take all this into consideration when ever I hear myself complain about my long day.
I didn't plan on being this long winded, Pia. But I do go on don't I?
Cavalcaderl | August 14, 2011 - 21:14
New Hudsonmoon
This is all so interesting, and
exciting to me, key in search and find photos,
on here all you mention. We have a friend from here,
moved Australia Perth, still keeps in touch. Nice.
All the stars and film you mention so interesting. New York, Manhatten,Hollywood brilliant just to look.
julie
Highhat | August 15, 2011 - 07:06
Wow that sounds like a brilliant commuting experience. I had a similar experience when commuting way back when. Put away my book in the end and just enjoyed the ride. It was early too now I remember- used to use a lot of time commuting- I'd love to go to NY some time. I guess you have the best of 2 worlds- living in the country and working in the city!
atb
;)Pia