no sleep till brooklyn...
when i think about new york city, i think of the same landmarks, historical events, clichés & pop icons that everyone else does (ie: all the things you'd find at the NewYork NewYork casino in Vegas). i think of my past experiences in the city, like watching tron at the HoJo when i was eight, and wandering the streets with lex, hagan & my cuz three years ago. but mostly, when i think about new york city, i think of the beastie boys.
"The L.I.E, the B.Q.E, hippies at the bandshell with the L.S.D !" adrock repeats over and over and over in my head as i get on the B44 williamsburg bus (that doesn't go to williamsburg, it turns out) from deep within the heart of brooklyn. i ask the bus driver if he can yell out when we get to the G line subway and he informs me, in his smooth 'i am a strong black man and i don't take shit from ANYONE' voice, "no ma'am... i can CALL it out , though." i say thank you and take a seat near the front of the bus, well within earshot.
across the aisle and a few seats up is a man in his late seventies, talking on a cellphone. imagine it: seniors on regular telephones speak loudly. on a cellphone, this man's decibel level reaches an unprecedented degree. the dude is fuckin' SCREAMING,,,
"I CAN'T COME TONIGHT, IT'S MY GRAND DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY !... NO I CAN'T TONIGHT !!!! NO, IT'S MY GRAND DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY !" it was mindboggling that whoever was on the other end was not comprehending his statement, because everyone on the bus was, to be sure. my fellow commuters snicker each time he repeats himself, and after a few minutes, we cross that strange anonymous transit rider line; the woman next to me smiles and winks, initiating a silent camaraderie.
the man sat at the front of the bus yelling into his phone for a solid five minutes. and without apparent resolution, he hangs up. the bus falls into complete silence...
the driver asks, "so, you got that sorted out, then ?"
yeah, you read that right.
i took the G train...
"The L.I.E, the B.Q.E, hippies at the bandshell with the L.S.D !" adrock repeats over and over and over in my head as i get on the B44 williamsburg bus (that doesn't go to williamsburg, it turns out) from deep within the heart of brooklyn. i ask the bus driver if he can yell out when we get to the G line subway and he informs me, in his smooth 'i am a strong black man and i don't take shit from ANYONE' voice, "no ma'am... i can CALL it out , though." i say thank you and take a seat near the front of the bus, well within earshot.
across the aisle and a few seats up is a man in his late seventies, talking on a cellphone. imagine it: seniors on regular telephones speak loudly. on a cellphone, this man's decibel level reaches an unprecedented degree. the dude is fuckin' SCREAMING,,,
"I CAN'T COME TONIGHT, IT'S MY GRAND DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY !... NO I CAN'T TONIGHT !!!! NO, IT'S MY GRAND DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY !" it was mindboggling that whoever was on the other end was not comprehending his statement, because everyone on the bus was, to be sure. my fellow commuters snicker each time he repeats himself, and after a few minutes, we cross that strange anonymous transit rider line; the woman next to me smiles and winks, initiating a silent camaraderie.
the man sat at the front of the bus yelling into his phone for a solid five minutes. and without apparent resolution, he hangs up. the bus falls into complete silence...
the driver asks, "so, you got that sorted out, then ?"
yeah, you read that right.
i took the G train...
posted by walkinvisible at 4:44 PM
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