I miss taking the train to work because that was where I got my best daydreaming done.
I still remember that ride on the Lake Street for my first day on the trading floor. My dad gave me two CTA tokens that morning. The rest of the journey was up to me and boy was it one hell of a dream.
From the early years in my career when I took the “L” into the later years on the Metra. I put in some quality time daydreaming in a different world. Most of the time it was the same world but I had a little more money in my pocket, my ass was smaller and my apartment had central air.
I ended up with enough money in my pocket, my ass still bounces, but I do have central air.
I don’t daydream as much anymore when Betty the Green Blazer and I drive to work. I worry more these days about life. Worrying doesn’t allow me to be lost in thought. It was also easier to hallucinate about LaLa land when a motorman or an engineer was doing the driving.
It’s been 13,550 days since my Oldman gave me those antiquated coins at Ridgeland Avenue. From Garfield Park through the Loop and out to Lagrange… I’ve gone from being the next Mike Royko, to being a rich and famous trader, to opening my front door to a Mardi Gras parade, to being a middle aged tighthead prop.
Always returning back to being me when hearing the conductor call my stop. I’m pretty lucky where the train let me off.
It is Tuesday morning and I’m already….. in a daydream.
