Friday, May 21, 2010

Tales from the Train

So I always thought I had my crazy train person story topped forever by Crazy Chinese Lady and while she's certainly in her own category - I have found a new challenger.

I'm sitting on the train minding my own business when a small Indian man, probably in his 50s, walked by with his big royal blue backpack nearly taking a swipe at my face. I thought nothing of it and went back to what I do best on the train - immersing myself in watching a dvd or reading a book and giving off serious vibes that I have no interest in conversation with anyone on the train.

As we started approaching Union Station, the same man walked back past me towards the front of the train. As he walked, he took careful measure to stare directly back at me. And as he continued walking he looked back again. And again. And as he slowly descended the stairwell, I saw his head pop up and look back AGAIN. Now at this point I'm looking around to make sure there's not some hottie sitting nearby that he was actually looking at. And there wasn't. So, clearly, I was the hottie.

He was in the stairwell down to the main level, so I again didn't really think anything of it. However as I started walking towards the front myself (having switched over to my IPOD to maintain my icy separation from the rest of the passengers and remain mobile), I see him glance back up the stairwell to me. Now I am a little spooked. And I start counting. 3 times as the train pulls into the station.

As we get off, I make sure to blow by him and his friend so as to not have to deal with this any longer. Since this day, I've seen him many times and continue to be pretty weirded out. Not really sure if I just look like someone he knows or if he is currently envisioning some romantic scenario where years from now we look back and laugh at how long the courtship played out.

If you're reading this out there Strange Staring Indian Man (and seeing as how many times you seem to glance over on a normal train ride, you have most definitely found this site and bookmarked it already. Ha, joke's on you, no pictures on this site and a wildly inconsistent blogging schedule) - I would like to simply express that the best we can ever be is good friends. I hope you can live with that and still lug your royal blue backpack into work each day.

In the meantime, I am currently examining alternative train schedules.