the usual suspects - the railroad edition

I've been commuting long enough to see some of the same people each day as I tend to sit in the same seat on the train in the morning. I thought I'd describe the notables.

1. Woman With A Sandwich - she sits directly behind me each day and the only reason I noticed her was that she crinkles the aluminum foil as she unwraps a peanut butter sandwich (on whole wheat) every single morning. At 7:26. I have gotten used to the scent of peanut butter - but it took a while.

2. The Lady With Very Thin Hair - I think about this issue, from time to time. What would I do if my hair started to thin? Would I get some kind of cosmetic or medical help? Would I buy that spray paint for the scalp? Would I wear hats? This lady has buzzed her hair short and she doesn't look bad but she doesn't look great. I don't think that she is unwell (chemo or somesuch) as I've had a few friends lose their hair during illness and that's not what this looks like. She carries a tote bag from a company I once worked for and I spoke to her one day to see if she worked there. I have since noticed that she is the most gracious and polite woman on that train and had tears in my eyes the morning she helped an old man, whose arm was in a sling, don his coat.

3. The Hair Splitter - wears far too much foundation...orangey foundation, has a diamond piercing in her nose and has hair that she blows straight most mornings (I'm assuming) as I can see that she has very curly hair on other mornings. Is a gum snapper and likes to spend the train ride examining the ends of her hair in search of split ends which she then isolates and splits off into two pieces. You might not think this is difficult to witness but, trust me, depending on my stress level, IT IS.

4. Soduku Man - this guy looks an awful lot like Raymond Burr. Wears his trousers way up high with his shirt tucked in tightly. Has a plastic pocket protector. Settles in very quickly and gets right to solving his puzzle. I've tried to catch his eye on several occasions, I'd like to say good morning, but he's far too absorbed.

5. Yacht club/tennis playing/ investment discussers - I think there are three guys involved in this conversation. They sit in the set of seats that face each other and manage, over 30 minutes to loudly conversate upon the yacht/tennis/private clubs they belong to, who they play tennis with and what's wrong with the market. There is some one-upmanship that is difficult to overhear and sometimes I wish they would just read THEIR NEWSPAPERS.

6. The Japanese Couple - two women who arrive separately, have stunningly beautiful coats and accessories, chat quietly for half an hour and often leave the station arm in arm. Oh, to be a soft spoken, stylish Japanese lady....

I've learned the conductors too...is that what you call the guy/gal who checks your ticket? I love their uniforms, and the fact that they each have a ticket puncher that leaves a different shape on your ticket - a little shoe! an X! a snowman shape!