So the train's late because...

The Metra remains my main way of getting to the city, as my current financial situation has not yet allowed me to move there (I also don't want to pay for all that parking)...but with graduation in less than a calendar year, I'm hoping that will change sooner rather than later. Anyway, since I spend so much time on the Metra, and most often on weekends, here are a few thoughts on Metra tardiness.

My train is often late. The time is usually made up sometime after the Cicero stop, so I still get downtown on time. This does make up for the lateness, so I'm in a better mood when we reach Union Station. When a train will be late, announcements are made over the PA system at the station, explaining why it's late and about how late it will be. Explanations include:

--"freight train interference"

--"signal problems"

--"waiting on other trains"

--"late equipment arrival"

...and, my personal favorite:

"HEAVY PASSENGER LOAD".

This does not indicate an abundance of overweight passengers. Instead, this means that way too many people are taking the train that day, and conductors must herd them onto the train like cattle. I've almost thrown out a sarcastic "moo" on especially crowded days, but it probably wouldn't really be that funny. This tends to happen most often in summer, when there are a number of festivals every weekend, so no matter which day you go, you are bound to shuffle along with the masses, trying not to be too impatient (which, sometimes, is rather hard to do), and, somewhere in the cynical back of your mind, or even under your breath, utter a quiet

"Moo!"

and laugh to yourself.