Hello from beautiful Los Angeles, where there’s never a cloud in the sky, the temperature never drops below 61 or rises above 82, and humidity and allergies are foreign concepts. Oh, and some of my closest friends also call this place home, so it’s been a pretty fantastic vacation so far.
The only hiccup in travel so far–knock on wood–was on day one, when I was taking the train to the Philadelphia airport from University City. As the ticket-hole-puncher-guy (what is his title? I was about to call him the “ticket master”) walked by to tell me to move my suitcase, he looked at me inquisitively, “So, where are you going, anyway?” When I told him that I was going to the airport, he responded, “Well then, you have other problems.” The train was definitely going to Wilmington, and I would have to take a train back into the city and wait for the next train to the airport.
So, it’s me, right? Tears, of course, started welling up in my eyes as I ran through all the worse case scenarios (which, let’s be honest, are inconvenient at worst but not that bad). This woman, Lorraine, three rows ahead turned around, “Why don’t you get off with me at my stop, and I’ll drive you to the airport? I live like 10 minutes away, and I just need to pick up my three-year-old on the way. Really, it’s no trouble.”
As we walked to her car she reassured me, “Don’t worry at all about all this, it happens all the time. They really need to mark those damn trains better.” Sure enough, when her daughter, Brianna, hopped into the car, she looked at me in the front seat, then turned to Lorraine, “Mom, are we going to the airport again?” Adorable.
Reason #487 why Philadelphia really is the city of Brotherly/Sisterly love.
By contrast, on my first day in LA, we accidentally happened upon a manhunt on Mulholland Drive and a man vigorously masturbating on Spring Street. But the weather and the company are the best!
anna in med school 
Anna, I’m sure there are lovely things about L.A. (I’ll admit I’ve never been). But with one of the worst air qualities of any city in the USA… I cannot BELIEVE there isn’t any allergic asthma to all the VOC’s and such. 🙂 Sorry the immunologist in me had to say! Hope you are enjoying your trip!
hahaha! Thanks, Erin! As an immunologist (friend, soon-to-be amazing mother), your opinion is more than valid 🙂 Thanks so much for the well wishes, and sorry for the delay–was without internet for a bit. How are you feeling these days? So excited!
I love Lorainne! That’s amazing!
I love YOU! Thanks hon, see you SO soon!
I believe the ticketing guy on the train is the “conductor”, although I will from now on refer to him as the ticket master instead.
YES! Let’s start the trend! (Also, sorry for the delay–was without internet in Yosemite!)
Am I seeing a pattern here? Perhaps we could call it “transportation impaired”? First, we have that infamous bicycle ride through Center City in the middle of a grand snowstorm. Now we have the saga of the wrong train. I think you need to make sure your name, phone number, and home address are sewn onto all your clothes so the police can get you home to John safely 🙂
HA! Thanks, Neal! You make a very good point, indeed…now I just need to find the fabric marker…
(Also, sorry for the delay–was without internet in Yosemite!)
GREAT story!!!
Thanks Uncle Jim! Love you! (Also, sorry for the delay–was without internet in Yosemite!)
Dearest, only you could get a total stranger to give you a ride to the airport. I love that about you!!
Ah, sweet Jen! Thank you! I think the tears went a long way…and Lorraine had clearly been this generous with a bunch of people previously :). Love you!