Ode to train
I love trains, especially all trains. I live near a train station and I am old enough to remember the pull down windows on trains here in London. I love the busy of London train stations, the anonymity of everyone rushing about, running for their train to each unknown destination. I love being on a train and then the person who has sat opposite you the whole journey gets off at your stop, should we have spoken? I love the audacity of some on a train, the conversations they have and don't care anyone overhearing or thats the point to know them more. I love the possible arguments that erupt and the way we all pull together when things go wrong. A woman had the beginnings of a stroke on a train the other day - there were four doctors on the train. I love a tourist on the commuter trains the way they stare at us all or marvel as we whoosh over the Thames, I get sad for them if we are passing another train when we go over the bridge and they don't get a chance to see Battersea Power station or the grand river Thames. The trains house the school kids who lack all spatial awareness. The train houses the homeless quietly on their 14th journey of the day. I am at the age where I say hello to all the staff at my train station, I didn't realise I became that age until recently. The age of anonymity when people see you as older then you were seen before. I don't mind. My friend does. Trains are a comfort blanket of sorts, it takes me 5 minutes to get my train, my children do the same distance in 2 minutes. Perhaps they don't any more because they are older too.