"Don't worry! I just got out of jail!"

Things that people say on the subway that do not ease my mind, no not one bit

Only one charter system is open these last two days before Christmas Eve, but one of my favorite schools is in it, so I signed up for on call. But… no shift. I imagine that people called out, but given that many kids won’t show up this week (according to the kids last week) they probably covered it from within. Oh well, kids won’t get the stickers they so desperately need until 2026!

I decided to make productive use of the day by going into town to get my Covid and flu shot. For all you vaccine skeptics - I not only have a degree in epidemiology, so I can read the studies myself, I worked as a Case Investigator for my state during the height of the pandemic. Covid is real, Covid makes many people extremely sick and caused many deaths. I talked to hundreds of people who were newly diagnosed, and many family members who had just lost a spouse or parent or had one on a ventilator in the hospital. Covid is real and the vaccine, while not perfect, works. Flu season is upon us, and many, many teachers and school students are getting it. I want to be able to cover for the teachers and not get sick, so I made it down to the CVS to get my shots.

For those of you who aren’t in Philly, a brief word about our transit system. It’s nothing like New York, but it’s pretty good. There are trolleys, subways and busses, as well as Regional Rail that are more like actual trains. I usually can take a nice trolley from the corner about five minutes walk from my apartment, past the bar that literally blew up, next to the signs for globalize Jew-killing, and then just about twenty minutes into town. The trolley is the best of the methods of transit, with the fewest totally wacko people screaming and doing scary things. BUT… there is tunnel work and the trolleys are not going all the way into town.

Everyone in Philly who rides transit is up in arms about this, as it doubles commuting times for many and makes us choose between getting somewhere, taking a Lyft or Uber at high prices, or taking routes that are more dangerous. I walked to the subway stop nearest me - a not great 20 minute walk - and took the subway from there.

When I got on the subway, a woman who was clearly not well was blasting very loud rap and screaming along to it. Ugh. I moved as far away as I could.

Then another woman got on. As she entered the subway car, she exclaimed: “Hi y’all! Don’t worry, I just got out of jail!”

She proceeded to greet several passengers then comb the subway car asking everyone for a dollar.

I, for one, do not find it comforting that this person just got out of jail and is now asking for money on the subway. Some of the people who ask for money - many of them, in fact - are very aggressive. Given the latest incidents of attacks on passengers on urban transit, I am a bit nervous.

I said, “I’m sorry, ma’am, I don’t have any cash on me,” to her request for a dollar and unlike many, she did not ask me to Venmo or CashApp her money.

I got my shots… at first the insurance company told me that Covid would not be covered without a prescription, but when I said that I teach in the public schools and am sure I’ll be exposed to it and can’t get to see my doctor before break is over (I had tried to get an appointment for other issues and can’t until Jan 14 after work), the service person contacted someone above her and got it approved. Unlike full time teachers hired by the schools, I do not get health insurance through my job or paid time off if I’m sick. If I’m out, I don’t get paid. So I need my vaccines to keep afloat, as well as to stay healthy. I gave the customer service rep a great review, though I wonder if they are told just to tell people that to reduce the number of vaccines the company pays for. Penny wise and pound foolish if that’s the case but who knows? Even if it is, it wouldn’t help to kill a healthcare executive like my leftist Facebook friends suggest!

Shots accomplished. Noticed that another Starbucks has closed downtown, and a restaurant that I used to love. The downtown is turning into miles of closed storefronts. Shoplifting, fewer people wanting to come to town, difficulty getting employees, vandalism and looting. Those who can, it seems, are moving or have moved.

The progressive Christian church I used to go to before it became an Anti-Trump rally in 2016 has an amazing ministry to the homeless, and I was very involved in it years ago. I’d like to get involved again. My pastor is one of my favorite people in the world, and even though he suffers from a serious case of TDS, he’s still an awesome pastor and someone I have always been able to talk to and trust. He’s been beyond supportive of me through some bad struggles. I asked him if I would still be welcome even though I’m more of a conservative now and he said of course, to just ignore the others if they got annoying. He’s down to earth like that. I will go back soon, maybe after Christmas. I’d love to have a faith community again.

Meanwhile some Zen friends are hosting a sitting and dinner on Christmas Eve. My mom and I are planning lunch on Christmas Eve at our favorite place and then I’m going to her place for Christmas Day. I’m thinking of making meatloaf, a new recipe. Would that be good, Mom? Mom has historically been the meatloaf chef, but as I am now over fifty I feel I can take on this responsibility.

She has two super cute cats who are my little brother and little sister. Here is the beautiful Georgia kitten. She’s not a kitten anymore, but she was the farm kitten when we lived on the Christmas tree farm so she’s always a kitten to me. She and her sister were found in a cardboard box on the side of a major highway! They were rescued and adopted and now Georgia lives like a princess and howls loudly until my mom brushes her.

I hope all who celebrated Hanukkah were able to have a good one, even with all the terrible things happening. I’m with you. I’ve only gotten two responses to my request for stories from New York readers about Mandami, so please message me if you’d like to contribute to that, even if you are not in New York now.

A Merry Christmas to those who celebrate Christmas. A happy Kwanzaa to those who celebrate Kwanzaa. A happy Solstice yesterday to my pagan friends and fellow Celtic blue people, and a happy nothing to my atheist pals. Most of the Muslims I know are my students, and they don’t celebrate a big holiday right now, but they will get stickers on Ramadan just like everyone else will, which might help them get through the fasting. It’s hilarious during Ramadan to hear the kids pose questions to each other like, “Hey man, would you break up with your girl during Ramadan?”

We don’t have a ton of material things, but my mom and I are happy that we can spend time together. The fun things we do and little presents are much better than when I made a lot of money but worked so much that I had no time. Mom found me an incredibly warm Lands End coat at a second hand store that hadn’t been worn even once from the looks of it. It’s greatly improved my life already! I can’t tell you what her presents are because they are surprises for the day.

Sunday was the one year anniversary of the day my dad died, yahrzeit. My step mother and I talked. He had just the death he wanted, but she was not ready and probably never would be. After 42 wonderful years of marriage, things will never be the same. But what a blessing to have loved so much for so long.

Wishing all peace, on public transit, in traffic, and otherwise.