Pick a card, any card

The other day I was training home after having a glass of wine with a friend-

It was dark out by now, and though I'm not consciously fearful of the train and their platforms, 

tonight felt eerie as the wind rustled up the leaves and the faint sounds of a heated argument began to emerge from the surrounding area.

I had made my way to the Sunnyside station, and sat on a bench near where the front of the train would arrive, and under a couple of glaringly bright lights, "just to be safe". It was just myself and a few others on the platform when a tall man passes by and stops in front of me, and tells me he has a magic trick to "brighten up" my night. At first I told him my night was bright enough. 

This was for a couple of reasons- Immediately upon this encounter, I had sized him up as

 a) taller than me b) stronger than me c) might be able to pull a fast one on me and d) a man. 

Sad as it is, as a woman you can never be too careful with how you choose to protect yourself and your belongings by always being actively aware and present in pretty much any novel interaction. 

So naturally, my defensive instincts went up- it's nighttime, this strange, lone man is trying to get me to play into a card trick (I've seen instances before where people get so wrapped up in the trick and what the other person intends for them to focus on, that they don't even know their wallet is missing by the end of it.)

As such, I immediately reminded myself of where all my bags were, what was close by, scanned this guy up and down for any possible signs of danger. And after my initial decline, he insisted once more, and I agreed.

He told me to stop anywhere in the deck, to"pick a card, any card", I did and put it back in, and after 7 shuffles, asked me to stop the falling deck, pick up the first card, and sure enough, it was the same 7 of clubs I had selected before.

After that, he went on his way and I continued with my wait for the Somerset departure. 

It really made me think.... and wonder if I was perhaps being paranoid by being so defensive at first, but also I am reminded daily of the necessity of keeping your wits about you. 

It is nice to know though, that even in this world of crime, and wrong-doings and deceit, there are still people out there who want nothing more than to provide amusement- and perhaps, to reassure you that among the darkness, light too, still exists.

Chatty Strangers

Rule #1 : Don't talk to strangers.

Right, right?

Isn't that what we've all been talk from a young age in order to protect ourselves from the potential evils of the world, even if it means closing off or blocking potential good vibes?

Regardless, talking to strangers on the train is something I can't seem to avoid no matter how hard I try.

For some reason it is always me, not the person closer to them, or across from them, that these "strangers" seem to enjoy striking up a conversation with. 

While on the train I am accustomed to routinely putting my earphones in and shutting out the loud/obnoxious sounds and passengers that typically accompany the ride. 

Even so, you get one of those people from time to time, who, though they can see you have your headphones on and are not in a prime chatting position, they will talk in your general direction until it becomes rude to ignore them .

Today was one such a time; 

Minding my own business per usual in a centre seat off to the side, when suddenly a man who seconds prior publicly announced "I'm drinking!" cracked another cold one and slouched down beside me in an uncomfortably close kind of way. The typical dialogue ensued: 

Random: "Hey, what's your name"

   Me: *pauses, thinks up fake name* : "Karen"

Random: "Karen, I like that! Hey, I'm Will" 

Me: "Nice to meet you"

Will: "Nice to meet YOU. Hey, I think you're really beautiful"

---- all the real charmers ride the train, true story----

Me: *uncomfortable laughter* "Thanks"

Will: "Hey, you got a boyfriend?"

Me: "Yep"

Will: "Are you gonna let me push him out?"

Me: "Uhhhh no."

Will: "Just say 'you can't snag me'"

Me: "Why?"

Will: "Because then I'll back off!"

Me: "Fine, you can't snag me"

Will: " Ohhhhh you said it! What a cool girl" 

Le sigh. I then went back to my ipod/phone/fb/twitter/anything else scanning and he chatted up the girl across the way, so at least I wasn't alone in experiencing these occurrences this time. 

But, it made me wonder; this character and most characters I have met on the train, though forward, generally mean no harm. They may be too flirty/ weird/ drunk, but they aren't causing any real disturbance, are generally just overly friendly and probably just want to talk to someone. 

So long as you know your boundaries, perhaps being open to strangers and their subsequent, undoubtedly equally strange conversations isn't the worst thing in the world.

All aboard!

Welcome!

Having taken city transit since elementary school I have come across a wide variety of both wonderful and repulsive situations. 

Recently, I have had so many strange occurrences en route that I have decided to turn it into a daily blog in order to properly document and sequence and share these moments, destined to live on forever no longer solely in my mind, but now in the far corners of the internet as well. 

Spending so much time every day just getting to my destinations has allowed me to see every type of person you can think of, and I am considering turning it into somewhat of a (consent-given) photo project should I work up the nerve, but for now, here is the best and the worst of what goes on inside the buses, trains and stations of my daily commute via Calgary Transit.

Here goes!