Nov
Gloombusters
This happened about 30 years ago.
It was a grey, chilly Friday. I was dropped off out by Belleville where I had one customer to visit. My employer gave me my pay for the week and told me that as soon as that call was done, I was off for the weekend. The customer was a depressing character whom I did not like. Though the job took but a few minutes, it was too long.
The day was gloomy and damp. The skies were darkening. I hurried to the nearby station for the Newark Subway. Out by Belleville, it ran in the open air in a cut below street level. The station was a mere pit stop made of concrete. As far as I was concerned the subway – actually a PCC trolley – could not come fast enough.
I noticed something written on the wall. It was crudely printed in pencil. The slogan read:
We do not run trains through your bathroom. Please do not pee on our station.
For the first time that day, I laughed. The little bit of graffiti hit a chord. I thought it was quite amusing, especially in view of the rest of the day’s gloom. The trolley / subway arrived soon afterward. That silly saying made my trip lighter.
There are times when an otherwise gloomy day can be made brighter by the simplest thing. All it takes is a joke, a pun, or some silly thing to save the day. Coincidence? I like to think it is a kindness of the Gods, the disir, or another friend on the “other side.” Whatever the cause, it sure helps!
