Dear L: Here’s what life was like when you left me in the lurch

L Train,

Gosh, this is weird. I don’t really know where to start here.

I guess, I’ll start with “hello.” You’re back and up-and-running, and a few of my friends even took you late night and said it was “pretty fine.” They said you “looked like you always did.” I’m glad you got to see them and that it wasn’t weird for you or them. Well, I guess I can’t speak on your behalf – I don’t feel comfortable doing that anymore – but I know my friends were more than ready to use you, and honestly glad you were there.

So, how was your time off? Were you able to get all that work done you were talking about? You made some pretty lofty promises for “change” and “increased efficiency.” Hopefully you won’t go back on your word. Again.

I remember back in – Jesus, what was it March? – you said you wouldn’t go past Lorimer after 11:30pm. You said it “would only be a for a little bit, but it’s something I have to do.” That was tough for me, but I managed. But then, after that suddenly BOOM you say, “Well, now I’m not running from Lorimer out.” That was not the change I was looking for. That was not the change I needed.

You left me with little to no choice. I had to cheat, L. What was I supposed to do? Walk across the Williamsburg bridge at 3:00am? Be reasonable, I beg of you. Yes, I took the shuttle – which was always packed and sweaty, I might add. Yes, sometimes I would spring for an Uber. (And please, spare me the eye rolling from your opinions of Uber. It wasn’t always easy hailing a cab at the corner of Union and Lorimer. Between the Bagel Express, The Metropolitan Room, and Kellog’s Diner, that corner is a high volume area for traffic and pedestrians! And yes, I tried to Uber Pool, but that wasn’t always easy either! One time I went to Carrol Gardens BEFORE going to Bushwick. How do you figure that?!) And yes, on occasion I would take the A, then transfer to the F, then transfer to the J, and then finally get on the M to Knickerbocker. A ride home that would take twenty five minutes would sometimes take me two hours. I’m not proud of it. It was all so backwards; it felt so wrong, but again what choice did I have?

For what it’s worth, anytime I was in an Uber, on that dreaded shuttle, or riding nine other trains, I was thinking of you. I would think about our better days when I could hop right on at 8th Ave, and you would carry me all the way home without problems or hesitation. I thought about how crowded you would be from 8th Ave to Bedford, but then at Bedford you would empty out a pile of fashionable hipsters in exchange for less trendy ones. I would think about how sometimes I would get off at Graham and go to Basik for their deviled duck eggs because they are fucking amazing. Or I would plop off at Morgan and go the The Narrows for their chicken fingers. (You know how much I love their honey mustard sauce!) And, on nights when I wanted a sandwich, or a box of cereal, or beer at any hour of the night/day I would get off at Jefferson and go to Hanna. I would then go home happy knowing I was only a few blocks away and could walk, or take you to Dekalb.

So now, after weeks of change and repairs you say to me “I’m back. Take me back.” You expect me to trust you. You expect me to rely on you again. And I’m not sure I’m ready. I don’t want to keep bringing up this issue, but you said you’d be done on the 18th. Then on the 17th you say, “Just kidding the 22nd!” You toy with my emotions for nearly six weeks and then you do that?! Low blow. I’d expect that from the orange line, or brown line, but from you?

Although New York is big, it’s actually really small. Life is weird, and you can’t help but run into people or trains you would otherwise try to avoid. So, I promise you that I will do my best to not hold your previous actions against you. I promise to be respectful of you. Many people still think very highly of you, and I will do my best to not ruin their opinion of you.

I hope you are well, and I hope you enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend. I heard a rumor you had a holiday schedule? Well, enjoy it. I’m sure this summer you’ll be busy.

See you soon,
Me.

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