Dear Fellow Commuters,I thought I'd write to let you know how honoured I feel to spend 3 hours of every working day with you. I missed you over the Easter weekend.
I particularly missed the overly-amorous couple with whom I have the joy of sharing the same carriage from Wallington. It makes my mornings seeing you make those silly little faces to each other and when you, dear lady, wave to your partner from the train as he climbs the stairs at Clapham Junction so that by the time he reaches the top you are bent over with your head turned 90 degrees by your knees in order to get those vital few seconds extra in sight of your beloved. Maybe it is because I am not the least bit jealous that you get to spend the week with your partner that I find your mannerisms so touching and not at all vomit-inducing.
To you, the man who sat down next to me this morning then promptly elbowed me in the jaw whilst trying to get your phone out of your pocket...your affection moves me. I do so hate it when people say sorry for things like that so I'm glad you didn't. There is no need for all this politeness.
I feel particularly special when I have to squeeze in between two people who have no concept of personal space and continue reading their broadsheets at full spread. It is equally pleasant at the end of the day when deodorant has lost its power and a fragrant aroma of sweaty grime fills the nostrils. Talking of nostrils, it is so kind of those people who regularly like to conduct a full and thorough search of their nostrils in front of a packed carriage. It is like getting free tickets to the theatre - glorious!
But there is nothing more pleasing than when someone chooses to sit next to me with a take away pizza oozing grease 6 inches from my 'professional dry clean only' coat and then proceeds to eat it with accompanying garlic butter dip. How flattered I feel to be almost sharing your gourmet meal with you.
My Granny used to watch the packed rush hour trains chugging by her house which overlooked the District line route and she would sigh enviously, "lucky people". Well Granny, you're so right. How lucky I feel to now be one of those commuters!
So thank you my friends and though we will never speak, here's to many more years of happy commuting.
Best wishes,
Anna (Carriage 2, the girl with the ipod, the brown coat and the Bill Bryson book)
5 comments:
Anna. I commuted from the age of 11 to school, via the district line, then to work for a further 22 years.....I wonder what you will think of it after a year!! Love from your beloved aunt!!!!
Oh god...you've brought it all back to me so you have. A book is the only way to get through it, as it serves to take your mind to another place and as a physical barrier to all of the unwashed...
Hey Anna,
Don't think the brown coat will last too long - will be sweltering hot and full of fainting people of the train/tube before long.
You have my sympathy.
Anna, as you know, my commute to work involves avoiding any stray deer and a five minute drive alongside a loch.
Come and work in Scotland. You know it makes sense!
Cheers
Cousin Nick
Hi Anna,
I'm having leaving drinks next Thursday in Canary Wharf, as I have a new job in HSBC. Come along!
GW
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