“I can already smell how fantastic the coffee smells up on Market Street, only one more day, just a few short hours, until Friday. Welcome to San Francisco ladies and gentlemen, Embarcadero Station.” — BART train operator this morning.
Every day the Embarcadero BART station is verbally announced when I step off of it in San Francisco. Most of the time it’s announced in a very fast curt muffled, “Embarcadero Station.” But every so often you get something more personalized when you hit the station, like the greeting that I heard above this morning. It makes me happy that someone would in their own little way try to send off 1,000 or so commuters with a positive message to their morning. That someone sees the world so optimistically and has to share that with someone else. I don’t know much about the man who said those words. I could tell that he was black from his accent. That was about it. I wish I knew who he was so that I could take his portrait and say thanks for his generous spirit.
It is nice when the train operators give a little bit extra. Thanks for this post, it was a good way to start my day.
They do it here in NYC too
very cool post. Thank you.
you could tell he was black by his accent??
..in response to anonymous:
Have you never noticed this? You’d know when there’s a white guy on the phone. I’d probably know if a Mexican dude called. Who’d mistake one for the other? They often sound distinct.
Hey! I think I was on the same train.
Only he said:
“I be already smellin that de-lish-i-ous coffee up dere in dat city, MMM-HMM! In jis a bit, it be friday! Welcome to San Francisco mah homies!”
@anonymous:
Hey, I think I was on the same train as well! Except I was closer to the driver, and I saw him get out and tap dance on the platform!