All The Small Things

I am often frustrated in Grand Central Station. It's very rarely anything significant. I dislike most of the advertising campaigns whose posters demand attention as I walk through the corridors. I don't like the people who come to a full stop in front of the monitors displaying track locations. I can't figure out why any train I need to take ever has to be all the way down on the lower level. What put me over the edge was the most recent recorded public address announcement.

The woman who makes it was a conductor on one of the trains I took with some regularity a year or so ago. She used to recite the full set of announcements about every two minutes until the train departed. This was frustrating to me as I try to arrive a least ten minutes before the scheduled departure to ensure I can get a seat. (I'm not a fan of standing.) Repeatedly hearing about all the stops we were going to visit, the courtesy warning to keep feet and baggage off seats, and the fact that tickets purchased on board the train are more expensive made me dislike the intrusion of her voice into my head. And now I hear that voice every time I walk to or from a train. The pacing, emphasis and even diction are all off. Here's her announcement:

"Attention Harlem, .... Hudson, ..... and New Haven CUSTomers. Please watch .... your step .... and beware. ..... OF the gap .... when entering ... and exiting th' train. Thangoovery mUCH."

This really irritates me, even thinking about it now.

Many aspects of Manhattan frustrate me, so why I am particularly bothered by these little things in the train station has been perplexing. I'm not particularly self-aware (and certainly not aware of others often enough) so I decided to think a little about why these minor things irritate me. I think it's a case of frustration by association. In the morning I am tired, my thoughts are already on the projects that lie ahead, and I am not thrilled to be starting ten to thirteen hours of work. In the evening I just want to get home and don't want to deal with the commute. So maybe my frustration is an indication of what a dedicated husband, father, and employee I am....

Nah, that can't be it. I'll have to keep thinking about this one.