6.11.2025

Public transit workers on strike. Stories of commuters pressed up against the gates, closed and locked before the posted times. Shudders. Remembering times the Blue Line would stop halfway between stations and a muffled mechanical voice would come on to remind you that your plans are of no interest to the gods.

Happens to coincide with my decision to relocate to a neighborhood pretty far from the center of things. I can do what I do anywhere so I'm not complaining but it's been an adjustment. In exchange for distance I now have a bedroom separate from both the kitchen and the bathroom and they each have their own doors and everything.

The back and forth does not feel adventurous. Tested a route on the bike and felt like that lady riding a Divvy on the shoulder of 290 in Chicago. Lanes disappear, arrows are meaningless or sadistic in their suggestions. Heavy traffic and barriers known to no map. One once again finds oneself at odds with cars. It's about a fifteen minute walk from here to get a bicycle but with the transit strike there are no bicycles. People need them to get to work. It's a thirty minute walk to the Metro stop which is as useful as me telling you how far it is to the Depanneur around the corner which has been closed since March, says the sign on the door.