Tuesday, March 18, 2008

its purim every day on ny subways....

the only subway system i have had experience with is that of the ny subway system. and what a wild ride it has been. for 2 dollars a ride or whatever it is these days ( i have an unlimited ride metro card for 81 dollars a month and the rates have changed recently) you will not lack for live entertainment. wanted or not. nothing like being on your way home from work, feeling like every bone in your body aches , just wanting some peace and quiet, and "bANG" they invade. the subway performer. you try to ignore them and read your book but it is impossible. they are just so loud that the noise goes through you. and you cant get up and change cars because you would have to give up your coveted seat .which is worth more to you than peace and quiet on a subway car. so you dont change cars. and you hope that the performer is someone who will quickly change cars after imposing their invasive shpiel. you hope its not a subway preacher rambling on about jews and non-jews with a voice that gradually rises to a crescendo as she speaks. you hope its not an alleged homeless subway parent doing a song and dance act with their kids. you hope not to get hit in the head when they do their somersaults. you hope there aren't any elderly missionaries on board . especially none that were born jewish. and now are not. or women on board who look straight ahead and say "i dont know why people say im a woman when im really a man". or someone from the united homeless organization reminding one to go home and thank g-d one has a home. and if one decides not to donate at least to give a smile....there's a purim shpiel everyday on the new york subways....

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I actually enjoy the entertainers like the mariachi band or the singers (not the other types you mentioned like the missionary and the homeless) - makes the time in the train pass quicker.
But my favorite is the Israeli girl who plays the musical saw - www.sawlady.com/blog - (she doesn't play on the trains - I only see her on the mezzanine at Union Square) - I heard her play 'Eli, Eli' and it was amazing, soulful, like a prayer. Some guy asked her to play 'Yerushalayim shel zahav' and that was beautiful, too. Talk about Purim - a musical instrument disguized as a handsaw :)