Thoughts on a train

With my new hours the family is on a different morning schedule. Before, I was driving the kids to school in the morning, which I love to do but which would result in a two-hour commute. Now we all jump in the car together, they drop me at the train station and he takes them to school. Even though the car part is only 10 minutes, it's nice to have a few extra minutes of morning time together.

Except on days like today, when one of us (him) is late. Then all bets are off, with people (usually me) shouting "let's go! we have to go! we're going to be late!"

But today there was no shouting, there was no point, we were too late for shouting. In the car I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to miss the train. This is unusual for me, to be calm about such things. I like to make my train and I hate hate hate to wait. But there simply wasn't enough time to make it. The next one wasn't for 30 minutes, so I was glad to have my warm jacket on, the one with the snuggly microfiber pockets. My iPod was charged up too, so at least I'd have music during the awful waiting time.

He raced through town and pulled up to the station at the same time the train was pulling in. I scrambled up the steps, ran to the train and jumped on. Nick of time.

Except that I hadn't validated my ticket which meant that if the conductor checked my ticket he or she would likely throw me off at the next station. I prepared my plea "if you let me stay on the train, I promise I will stamp my ticket in San Francisco." In my head, I promised.

The conductor never showed up in my car. It can be like that in the morning, especially since I ride in the back and the conductor doesn't always make it that far. I was riding the train for free.

This presented a minor moral question: do I follow up on my promise to validate my ticket at the station or do I accept the gift of the free train ride? Did I get the free ride because I promised the universe to do the right thing? And if I don't validate the ticket, aside from the obvious, albeit petty, wrongdoing, will it effect my karma? Do I really believe in karma?

Such deep thoughts for an early morning fueled only by decaf.

I turned on some Roxy Music and decided to do the right thing. At the end of the free ride I got off the train and stamped my ticket. Not because of the potential repercussions, but because I said I would. Even if I didn't say it to anyone other than myself. Maybe especially because I didn't say it to anyone other than myself.

Such a goody two shoes. Makes me want to puke. ;-)