metra lemmings

one thing i love about downtown working is the metra. i love the ride. i love reading books. but i hate the lemming effect once we hit olgivie station and everyone pours out of the trains. there must be ten trains that all dock at once and the crowds shuffle along looking for the first revolving entrance. then we all get in line and wait our turn in the crevice. then we shuffle down to the next revolving door where we wait our turn in the crevice. i absolutely hate this part of the day.
i watched a blind man find his way in this mess. i worried about him because of the stairwells that exist on the platform. the stairs that that lead you down a different track than the revolving doors. i saw him catch the post in the middle of the platform but didn't wait to see how he would handle the stairs. there was a line of people there. would he get caught in the line without knowing why? or did he know that people lined up for the stairs as they did for the revolving door. did he ever just once fall down the stairs because no one told him about it. i think blind people are brave for working in this downtown atmosphere.

when i come to the bridge - going to work or coming home - there are the homeless begging. one on each side of the bridge, like poverty bookends. i wonder about them too. i heard once that a 'homeless' man actually made more money than me by begging. he owned a house and three cars. had a family and spent his day begging for money. i wish i were brave enough to make my living through begging. my mennonite sensibilities wouldn't allow it though.

riding home last night on the train i fell in love with chicago alleys - again. i love the alleys here. but last night i kept seeing these rows of alleys with garages backed up against it. one after the other. and i wanted to live in the garages and have access to all of the alley living that must happen. it all seemed so lush under the burgeoning shower of green that was slowly coming forth on the vines and bushes and trees surrounding the garages.