In Search of Life Out There

by Sondra Hickman   

     I moved to New York City in 2001 from South Carolina.  I was in search of life out there. I moved into an apartment share in Alphabet City on Ave A, close to the F train.  I was so new in the city I didn't know my way around at all.  The very first thing I did was to find a good sturdy laminated folding purse-sized map of Manhattan, that had all the trains and the train stops marked by little colored dots. 

     My second priority was to find a job!  I used my little map to navigate the subway train system to drop off my resume to various businesses in city.  Uptown and down, east to west I rumbled along.  The crowding of the trains at rush hour was comical to me.  I wasn't used to large crowds but I accepted this as part of the life out there I was looking for.  After a week of job hunting I began to get the feel of the way the train system operated, and which side I needed to be on to go uptown or
down.  I did take those long rides in the wrong direction, and with help from other strap-hangers I would eventually find my way.

     I took my resume to a temp agency.  The strange thing was I hadn't planned to interview, I was just dropping off a resume.  The other ladies sitting in the little waiting room were dressed in fine business attire with heels and I waltzed in wearing my jeans and tennis shoes and was immediately asked,  "Can you type?"

    "Yes."

    "Do you know Brooklyn?"

     "Yes."

     I had never been to Brooklyn, but I trusted that the MTA had and with my little map in my pocketbook I wasn't worried.

    "Ok, great report to work on Monday morning this is the address, you will fit right in over at Con-Ed, they all wear denim to work."

    "Thank you, that's great I don't have to wear heels?"

    "No heels!"

    I left walking on cloud nine and took the number 6 train back downtown.  I got off in the village near 8th street and walked the rest of the way back to my apartment. I was so excited!  Thanks to the subway system, I was now employed in my new hometown.

     I had a nice car but since I didn't know my way around I played musical parking spots with it, while I tried to learn the parking regulations, I took the train to work.  On Saturday before the first day I was to work I made a dry run to make sure I could find Hudson Ave. in Brooklyn where I would be working.  I took my F train downtown and got off first at the wrong stop and found myself turned around.  I got back on the train after asking a few people on the street,

    "Where is Hudson Ave.?"  Back on the F, I found the correct stop and after a short walk I found my new job site.  I felt good about finding my way, and each day on my way to work I enjoyed the time to sit quietly on the train and doze.  On the street a coffee wagon greeted me with a nice hot cup of coffee and a great muffin.  I enjoyed the walk to work while eating my breakfast!

     I enrolled in night classes to further my education.  My class was way uptown three nights a week.  Once again I did a dry run to find the classroom and make sure I knew where I was going, I had to take the F train and then change to the 9 at 42nd. Street.  I felt empowered with my ability to conquer Manhattan by using the subway!  I worked in Brooklyn and went to class on the Upper West Side for almost 6 months.  During this time I also used the bus and train system to go to the airport and meet family that came to visit, and I showed them the city while my car stayed parked with the same gas in the tank that was in it when I came through the Holland Tunnel.  I did use it to store things and I finally took it to Brooklyn and was allowed to leave it in the fenced parking lot at work while I used the F train to take me to work and back and to class and back and on weekends I took my bike with me and explored the city.  I graduated from class and got a better paying job and soon I was making twice the money I had been making as at my clerical position.  I always felt good when I could give someone directions and tell them which train to take and what stop to get off and which direction to walk to get to their destination, I was now a New Yorker!

     After a year in Manhattan, I knew the subway system like the back of my hand. I knew what time the trains would be undergoing construction too and I learned how to use the bus system along with the subway to continue to travel without problems. I knew which car I should be in and what door would open to get me closer to the stairs going out to my destination. I sold my car and I didn't have to worry about getting a parking ticket.  That alleviated a lot of stress! 

     With this new income I was able to get my own studio and that was a great day for me. Without the subway I would never have made it all happen. I studied while riding along, I rested between the job and the classroom, and I used the train to meet friends and go out and enjoy this city I was now living in. I was fully independent and living in New York City, what could finer? 

Sondra Hickman is a retired paramedic. She enjoys writing, photography, nature, and gardening. Her book, Before Life Got Complicated, (Publish America 2006) can be found at www.dixxebell.com.