Morning. Today. 5:01 a.m. First train to Grand Central.
Dark Sky reports 33° F, feels like 25°. Feels like: Not Spring. March 5th. Spring backward. Falling and stumbling forward.
I wedge myself into a two seater, nudging the occupant awake. (Same occupant who was sprawled across two seats). He’s annoyed. I’m annoyed that he’s annoyed. I’m way more annoyed.
I glance up at the few unfortunates standing in the vestibule. Now they should be annoyed.
But for the low throb of the annoyances, and the giant overhead heaters blowing through the vents, the train car is silent. No talking. No whispering. No paper shuffling. Nada. Silence.
It’s as if Jack Kornfield blew the whistle and yelled Go: “It was the silence, stopping and taking a breath, opening the heart, seeing that the whole planet, and everything on it, is holy.”
And at that moment, the lead-weighted shoulders are freed.
The soles of the feet, through the leather soles of my lace-ups, feel the vibration of the steel of wheels on the steel of the tracks, bumping along with the rhythmic skip of steel on steel at the ties.
The seat under me is soft and shifts with each rail tie. The train car rocks, my body sways ever so slightly left and right and then back again. My knees gently knock on the seat in front, first right knee then left.
Feet, knees, palms, seat — sensations are elevated.
I close my eyes. Drift off, and float along on Kornfield’s holy train.
His holy car. Holy Cow.
I awaken to the conductor’s announcement: “This station is Grand Central. Please mind the gap between the train and the platform.”
Meditation? Nah.
Mediation is not for real men.
Notes:
- Photo: “Sleeping” by Michael Knudsen (via Your Eyes Blaze Out)
- Kornfield Quote: Thanks you Make Believe Boutique.
- Related Posts: Commuting Series
I think its great you come up with these things when you’re riding to work!
Thank you Claudia.
We all know you’re not from the “real” men clan!
I am too!
Well you know I’m happy to hear this 👏🙏🏻👏
Of course you are! 🙂
Ah-h Silence! Precious! So glad it came to you…
Smiling. Thank you Valerie…
Taking a deeeeep breath… Closing my eyes… Drifting, drifting, drif
You found it!
I was right there with you on that train, felt every sway of the seats over the rails. Then I finished reading and gave thanks that I live in (what used to be) a small town.
Smiling. Thank you Anneli. Yes, be grateful. Very grateful.
I hear Arlo Guthrie in the background…
I had to Google Arlo Guthrie. Had no idea who he was Ilona. Laughing.
Sorry. Kind of an American icon…if you’re an old hippy, lol.
Lol
Hmmm…too bad meditation isn’t for you – the price you real men pay seems inordinately high 😉
Laughing. Truth.
zen in spite of yourself –
Laughing. In spite of myself. Beautifully captured Beth.
What’s a ‘real’ man? I would love to see a post of yours re: this. Still wondering. Great post, D <3
Smiling. I’m still learning Bela. 👍
How I miss the early morning commute 🙂
Great post David
Smiling. I’m sure you don’t miss all of it Nicolas😀. Thank you.
How I wish I could really experience silence!
I feel lost in this world of pointless chatter:/
Me too!
DK…you never take these journeys alone. You know that don’t you?
Think: Pigpen in a comic book frame….dust, dirt, debris following closely as his blanket drags behind when “lace-ups” fall to path…
Think: the clan that binds…on your heels…
Awwwww. I so so love this Raye! Thank you. (I’ve read it 4x times. And have copied and pasted your comment in my vault)
“The soles of the feet, through the leather soles of my lace-ups, feel the vibration of the steel of wheels on the steel of the tracks”….❤️
Who do you think you’re fooling?
Laughing. NOBODY!
“He’s annoyed. I’m annoyed that he’s annoyed. I’m way more annoyed.” Favorite passage in the post…absolutely cracked me up. You are too funny by half, pal. You get your britches in a twist and then go all Zen in spite of yourself. I do believe there’s hope for you yet! In the meantime, we enjoy the evolutionary process vicariously… 🙂
Laughing. I’m not sure there is hope Lori. Like Mica, sparkling, shiny, but fool’s gold!
Nope, you’re pure gold, pal!
Awwww…..
I love the way you write…I am so glad you are not numb to the day to day…that you are grateful and that you share with us the sacredness of the gift of each breath…
Thank you Christie. I appreciate you.
Thank you, Dave…you are kind. /// I meant to mention this correlation, “DK” & “JK” both good men and great writers…
Smiling. Thank you.
Captivating as always. But find the thought at the end intriguing…a literary ribbon to tie up the story? … stereotyping? …or perhaps a soft spot?
Hmmmmmm. Thank you Helen.
Your galopping ‘annoyance’ cracked me up. When one of my sisters is REALLY mad at somebody (and it doesn’t take that much….), she calmly says: I’m pretty soon going to be ever so slightly mad/furious/annoyed with you! And God help the poor sod who can’t read those words carefully and in full anticipation of what’s to come, if the ‘mad-making’ continues….. oh the wrath!
Laughing. So good Kiki.