November 12, 2007
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Quit Your Hestitating, Nora Lee
Riding the subway home from a job interview in lower Manhattan this morning, I found myself in a position that I’ve never been in before: I was alone on the subway car. Now, I’ve ridden many a subway in my life – I’ve been happily car-free for six years – but never have I found myself to be the only passenger of public transit. Perhaps my hours have always been too regular – who rides the subway uptown Monday morning at 11 am, except a job hunter like myself?
Anyway, at 145th, everyone left in my train car alighted and no one new boarded; I was alone, swishy swaying to the rhythm of the rumbling track. When the train stopped at 175th and still no one got on my car, I knew that it was now or never. I sang. I sang loud.
“I know that you are itching to get married, Nora Lee/And I know I’m twitching for the same thing, Nora Lee/By the stars and clouds above, we could spend our lives in love/You’re a hesitating beauty, Nora Lee.”
My ipod happened to be playing Hesitating Beauty, a song on Billy Bragg & Wilco’s 1998 release, Mermaid Avenue. Swinging from subway pole to subway pole, belting it out with Mr. Bragg, felt like a little pressie from the universe, a moment of unadulterated fun for all the relentless job hunting I’ve been buried under lately. It was also funny to exit at 181st feeling as if I’d gotten away with something. I hope that whoever watches the security cameras found in my performance something to laugh about, something to make his or her morning a little more interesting.
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When did you last act like a complete nut in public?
::Random Tangent::
The job interview went extraordinarily well this morning. Not to jump the gun or anything, but I was basically offered the job. It sounds like I just have to wait until my background check goes through and they can see that I’m not a criminal. However, I still have three interviews for other jobs lined up this week, so we’ll see how it goes. If the opportunity offered this morning turns out to be the best one, I’ll go for it. Either way, I’m very excited and very relieved. Phew!
Comments (6)
*Whew!* I hope at least one of the jobs comes through with an offer!
And you’ll probably never be alone in a subway car again, so it’s probably good you got your singing in when you did.
Oh, I love that album. I could break into “California Stars” at the drop of a hat.Public silliness is, imho, required once in a while. My acts are much smaller and more boring, but I always feel giddy … and better.Good luck with the interviews. Sounds like you’re on the right track!
Nice! That interview and the ones coming sound like gold to me. I like that you will likely have to choose the best alternatives. Good for you!Oh man, that singing had to happen! What a great break and killer use of the vacant car.Strangely, I’m better at public displays of silliness when with others. Especially if the others are timid or angry r something that needs a stress breaker.And then again for no reason I will do silly things here. ryc: So glad you laughed! I wanted to make myself giggle and it worked so I thought why not share it. I’m getting Fillup a MySpace and a Facebook when I get around to it.Some Native American cultures and some others view the flat back of a head as being the ultimate in beauty.
Sounds like fun. Too bad the CTA is all shitty right now. i would love to have a moment like that on the blue line.
Congrats on the good interview!I used to take the subway to school when I missed the school bus, which meant the 1/9 (now just known as the 1) from 86th to 231st in the Bronx at 8:30 am. Nary a soul would be heading in that direction. By the time we’d cross the Harlem River, I’d be alone with the exception of the occasional soundly-sleeping homeless guy. Once, I brought my camera and took some pictures of the subway and the scratchiti glowing through the windows (at that point, the subway is above ground). I miss that New York.
Re: your songful subway soliloquy: Might argue that you did not sing “in public,” as there was no public! The old “If a tree falls…” Good you put that rare occurance to great use. Nutty, no! You would have been nuts to remain silent! At least I think so.