The Glitch

Between the Rally and the Reunion, last weekend was absolutely wonderful.  But, as I mentioned yesterday, there was one minor glitch.  Actually, when I was in the midst of it, it didn’t feel like a minor thing but it was only one small part of what was otherwise a great couple of days so, with time, it is becoming more and more minor.

Have you ever ridden The Metro in the Washington, D.C. area? Have you ever ridden a commuter train at all?  I have at various times in my life.  When public transportation works right, it is convenient, easy and an enjoyable way to get where you need to go.  But it can be very unpleasant and Saturday was a prime example of unpleasantness.

To begin with, we arrived at the bus stop a couple of minutes before the bus arrived.  We didn’t think there would be that many people on the bus because it was Saturday morning.  We were wrong.  The bus was standing room only.  But that was ok because we met people from Michigan who had come in for the Rally.  Then we met more people from Michigan who actually went to the same high school as my friend (let’s continue to call her “Mary”).  We also met a nice gentleman who had never been to Washington, was by himself and didn’t know how to get to the Rally. He ended up traveling along with us.

After we left the bus, we had to stand in line for Metro passes.  It took a while but the crowd was friendly and happy and moved quickly.  So far so good.  No glitches.

Next we boarded the train.  It was already crowded and I didn’t get a seat.  Ok, I can hang on to the pole.  No problem.  No glitch.

At the next stop, more people boarded.  Then at the next stop, more people boarded. Then at the next stop, more people.  More people. More people.  And, thus, the glitch begins.

Every time the door opened, people shoved their way on to the train.  Eventually I couldn’t hold on to the pole anymore because I couldn’t reach it.  Each time I thought that we had crammed as many people on to the train as could fit, the train would stop, the doors opened and more people tried to cram on.  We were so tightly packed in that we couldn’t raise our arms, couldn’t hold on to anything and just basically moved as a mass whenever the train started or stopped.

At one of the last stops, before people started getting off, the train stopped, the doors opened and people started shoving to get on.  And I experienced what it feels like to be crushed. Literally.  I felt pain as people pressed in squeezing me and making it difficult to breathe. Pain as my body was crushed and smashed against other people.  All of us being crushed started yelling for the people to stop.  “No more room” we kept yelling.  But I don’t’ think we were that effective because three people still managed to force their way on.

Was I uncomfortable before? Yes!  Was I in a worse position now? YES!!!

Did I ever mention that I am a little claustrophobic?  I can’t stand being buried under covers, don’t like closed in places and really don’t like places that are dark and crammed.  So here I am, stuck between the two doors, people on all sides and moving on a train through dark tunnels.  PANIC!!!

As I’m standing there, I tried to think of something to take my mind off of what was happening.  I started thinking about the poor people who were crammed into cattle cars on the way to concentration camps during the Holocaust.  No, no, no…don’t think about THAT. Think about something else.  Slaves crammed into slave ships sailing from Africa to America with no room to move, people dying around them, horrible smells everywhere…no, no, NO.. don’t think about THAT!  Think about something else.  What if the train stops mid tunnel and we are stuck there with no air and no room to move and…..NO, NO, NO…DON’T THINK ABOUT THAT!!!

Just then, a guy standing near me said I hope no one is claustrophobic.  I said that I was and was really starting to panic.  He said ok…close your eyes, think of a meadow.  I did and I said it’s a nice meadow but its pretty crowded because there are people crowded all around me.

Actually, he really did help to distract me and I tried to think about beaches, and sunshine and fresh air.  Shortly after that, the train stopped and, this time, when people tried to get on, they were shoved right back off again.  They tried again and were shoved off.  Good. Progress is being made.

At the next stop, people started to get off.  Then more people departed and, after a few more stops, I was able to move to where my people were and hold on to a pole again.

I made it.  I survived.  We arrived at our stop, left the train and headed up to sunshine and fresh air.  It was finally over.

I know there are places in the world where being shoved and crowded on a train is an every day occurrence.  I have been told that in Japan there are actually “people shovers” who push people on to the train.  I have seen the pictures of places like India where people not only are crammed in the train but also are riding on top.  After this past Saturday, I am convinced that I could never live in a place like that.  I prefer Maine where the daily commute is in my own car and rush hour means a minor inconvenience of waiting a few extra minutes in traffic and where I can drive for five minutes and be out in the country surrounded by meadows, trees and beautiful scenery as far as the eye can see.

It’s not that I don’t like being around people.  One of the reasons I enjoyed the Rally was that it was wall-to-wall people who were all in a good mood, happy and having a great time.  But there was also blue sky, sunshine and fresh air.  I like being in crowds just fine as long as there is some personal space around me. Not much.  Just enough so that I can breath and move and raise my arms to scratch my nose if the need arises.

So that was the one glitch in an otherwise perfect weekend.  Just a minor thing, in the grand scheme of things.