Today I rode the
subway down to the
World Trade Center to attend the
GARP Credit Risk conference. Hanging around with
Risk Professionals from banks--Nothing really special planned for
Valentine's Day.
It's been at least a
month since I last rode the subways, an eternity, considering I live in
the city. Taking
cabs everywhere is comfortable and
convenient and
faster, but not half so interesting.
Somehow, today, the ordinary
people on the
1/9 subway seemed less
hopeless, less
tired from a hard day at
work. The
heavyset middle-aged woman in an
uncomfortable suit was transformed into a smiling
young girl again, staggering under the weight of two dozen
roses. A father and
daughter were sharing
pastries at the other end of the
car, and a young black woman was bearing dozens of 'I love you' balloons.
I'm not going to
bitch and moan that I didn't get anything on
Valentine's Day, that I don't
have anyone. People on the
subway have people who love them-- there's hope for the
world yet.