The Girls on the Train

There are two women I’d seen on the subway train in Toronto. One made me wish I’d used my camera, the other that I’d recorded some audio. Let’s call them Emily and Rachel.

Emily. She had come up the elevator to the west-bound platform where some fifty people and I were standing. As soon as the glass door slid open you could hear her naturally magnified voice. Despite her volume she was holding that little mic attached halfway down her earbud wires right up to her lips. Her eyes were on fire. Apparently someone had been “talking shit” about her and she was calling to give them the business. It was so funny how loud she was uttering these threats and obscenities while the rest of us tried our best to keep our subway travel poker faces. And even better, the connection in there was dodgy at best. She would turn on a dime from being Jules Winnfield on his worst day to a very calm, “Can you hear me? Can  you hear me now?” Then right back to spitting obscenities and death threats. Eventually the train came, she hung up, and I boarded a different car. Goodbye, Emily. You won’t soon be forgotten. For at least some fifty people.

Rachel. I’d stepped on and took a good look. I love riding subways and public buses when they are full. There are always people representing different ages, nationalities, styles, temperaments, etc. and the atmosphere is so much better than it is when you’re flying. On an airplane, you have to follow so many little rules and so much protocol before you can settle. Then you must strap in and your neighbours consist of someone to the right and someone to the left. Now you just have to figure out what to do to pass the time. In a subway train, you simply step on. The rules you follow are more etiquette and courtesy, not a regulation. You can sit or stand, being safe is expected of you, not relegated to you. Most of us are all facing each other. It was two minutes into the ride that I noticed two passengers watching a young woman sitting next to them. One man looked at the other and said, “Heh, no one has a clue.” They  were watching her draw. She was looking up at people on the train and drawing them. She was fast, and really good. I wished I’d had that skill. I thought of taking a pic of her doing this and then thought maybe it might be a tad intrusive. Which is a bit ironic now that I think of it. But this woman’s quietness, acumen, and bold confidence was pleasant to observe. Even encouraging in some way.

I find it interesting to compare and contrast these two strangers I had the privilege of witnessing. Even though I got a kick out of Emily, I do hope I become more and more like Rachel in my life. There are times when you need to stand up for yourself, but the way you regard your fellow woman and man really affects your happiness in life. Rather than making a scene and tearing another down (no matter how deserving they may be), I want to look around, observe and appreciate the art of uniqueness in all of us. Take little mental snapshots or mental sketches and enjoy the moment.

Congratulations The Girl on the Train. This is your week.

And the Oscar goes to…

Best Actress: Well, Blunt really deserves the designation in all three movies, but I think Rebecca Ferguson (Anna in The Girl on the Train) deserves recognition. She’s starred in some impressive movies in the past five years and may be a big star to watch.

Best Actor: Benicio Del Toro as Alejandro in Sicario. The first time I remember watching him was in Traffic (2000) and shortly thereafter in The Usual Suspects. He is such a great actor!

Best Quote: “Hey Mate! I think there’s something wrong with your suit, There’s a dead guy in it.” — Jonas Armstrong as Skinner in Edge of Tomorrow.

My Favourite Female Performances of 2018:

10. Constance Wu as Rachel Chu in Crazy Rich Asians 9. Maggie Gyllenhaal as Lisa Spinelli in The Kindergarten Teacher 8. Danai Gurira as Okoye in Black Panther 7. Laura Harrier as Patrice Dumas in BlacKkKlansman 6. Kate McKinnon as Morgan in The Spy Who Dumped Me 5. Zazie Beetz as Domino in Deadpool 2 4. Millicent Simmonds as Regan Abbott in A Quiet Place (If you saw the movie, she’s the daughter.) 3. Lady Gaga as Ali in A Star is Born 2. Rachel McAdams as Annie in Game Night 1. Yalitza Aparicio as Cleo in Roma

My Favourite Male Performances of 2018:

10. Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca in Solo: A Star Wars Story 9. Kurt Russell as Santa Claus in The Christmas Chronicles (mainly for one scene) 8. Jesse Plemons as Gary in Game Night 7. Chadwick Bosemon as Black Panther in Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War 6. Topher Grace as David Duke in BlacKkKlansman 5. Tom Waits as Prospector in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs 4. Jason Bateman as Max in Game Night 3. Michael B. Jordan as Kilmonger in Black Panther 2. Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool in Deadpool 2 1. Adam Driver as Flip Zimmerman in BlacKkKlansman