Over The Cubicle Chronicles: Next Station, Metro Center

Brooke's grown tired of the craziness of driving to work; the traffic and trying to find a parking space when she gets there. Now she's opted for a different kind of crazy, riding the Metro's Green line.

Jeffrey was standing in the office's kitchenette when Brooke arrived.

"Good morning Brooke."

"Good morning Jeffrey."

Jeffrey looked down at Brooke's tummy area.

"So you're missing motherhood and decided to wear your back pack on the front, or you just starting a new fashion trend?"

They both walk back towards their cubicles as Brooke begins to explain.

"I was on the train the other day and some kid was unzipping this man's back pack as he was going down the escalator. From that point on this baby is going in the front."

They both sit down in Brooke's cube as she continues.

"And this morning, I sit down next to a nice looking young lady and speak, "Good Morning," but when she spoke back it was like a green fog of garbage stench coming out of her mouth."

"Damn, did you get up?"

"Heck no, the train was packed and I wasn't about to stand all the way to Metro Center. But the worst part of it was she kept yawning and that green fog kept coming my way."

"What did it smell like?"  Jeffrey asked.

"It smelled like, butt, onions, and last night's dinner. So I just buried my nose in to my back pack until I got to my stop."

"Oh my God, I just can't even imagine."

Jeffrey takes a sip of his tea and Brooke puts her back pack on her desk.

"And that's not the worst of it.  It was some kids on there playing loud ass music at 6:30 in the morning.  One of the girls had her leg wrapped around the pole like her name was Poison Ivy straight out of a strip club and one of the dudes was hanging from the pole doing pull ups."

Jeffrey blew on his tea as he leaned forward.

"Then one lady said, "No one wants to hear that kind of language first thing in the morning." Then he says back to her "And no one wants to look at that ugly ass wig you're wearing!"

Jeffrey clutched his bow tie as if they were pearls.

"Then what happened?"

"I thanked the Heavenly Father that it was my stop. And as I got off the train I tossed her a mint, and to the bunch of them in that car I yelled "Not my zoo, not my monkeys and have a great day!"

Metro Center, Doors Opening On The Left......





Over The Cubicle Chronicles: One Emoji, Two Emojis, Three.....

Jeffrey is well in to his relationship with Ian and he is so sure that it's serious and going somewhere fast. Then suddenly he hears the screech of brakes.


"Hey Brooke"


"Yes Jeffrey"


"Listen to this sh*t."

Jeffrey as usual heads over to Brooke's cube to sit in her counseling chair

"What happened now?"

"Well you know that Mister Man and I have been going full steam ahead, and now suddenly it's slow motion."

Brooke didn't even turn away from her monitor to face Jeffrey

"Didn't you tell me that this man is opening up two gyms in the city and is still meeting with his clients?"

Jeffrey is so unbothered by Brooke's response

"Well yeah, but listen to this...  He used to text me every morning with a cute Emoji and now I'm not even getting "Good Morning," I'm getting "GM," who does that?"

Brooke is still facing her monitor and putting items in her Amazon cart and is oblivious to Jeffrey's whining

"Then during the day he would send me the cutest Emojis saying he was thinking 'bout me, and...."

Brooke is deciding between a black maxi cowl neck or a turquoise sweater dress

"Um hm, I'm listening."

She clearly is not

"So you know I called him out on it. First you send me four Emojis a day and now we're down to maybe two.  No one and I mean no one puts baby in a corner!"

"Um hm, I'm listening."







And again, she clearly is not

"Then boyfriend says to me "I've been renovating two gyms, moving equipment, installing T.V.s, interviewing clients and trainers, ordering equipment, dealing with plumbing issues, and I broke two fingers on some weights and my finger nail is hanging on by duct tape, and you're talking to me about an Emoji!" 

Jeffrey responds to Ian

"Well, since you put it that way."

Brooke finally turns around to face Jeffrey and looks at him over her glasses

and says

"Well I guess he put baby in a corner and stuck a pacifier in his mouth!"


"But for real that's only three fingers that don't work; that leaves seven good ones. Send me my damn Emojis!"



They both fall out laughing!

"Boy get out of my cube!"



Over The Cubicle Chronicles: BodyCon

Lately Brooke has been wearing dresses and skirts that show her curves and it hasn't gone unnoticed by Jeffrey.


"Girl, that dress is giving me life! I don't remember you having that booty last year."

Brooke gives Jeffrey an over the shoulder look while poking out her toosh.

"BodyCon Boo on Amazon."

"BodyCon?" asks Jeffrey.

"Yes, BodyCon and a few moves I've been working on."

Brooke demonstrates a combination of moves that

include twerking and squats

"Wow Brooke, you think you can show me how to do that?"

Brooke walks away...

"Boy put a sock in it!"

Jeffrey puts his hands in his front pockets

"I already do that, I need to work on the back!"











Over The Cubicle Chronicles: Who is Really In Charge?

Brooke and Jeffrey have been unsupervised for a few days now. Brooke is acting in her supervisor's stead and Jeffrey has been just acting, acting a damn fool!


"Hey Brooke"


"What Jeffrey?"


"It's my day to leave early."


"I thought yesterday was your day to leave early."


"Well, no yesterday was my day to come in late."


"Boy, I can't keep up with your damn schedule."

Jeffrey hears Brooke gathering her things.

"Where you going Brooke?"


"I have an important meeting on the Mezzanine at 1pm."

Jeffrey steps out of his cube just as Brooke steps out of hers.

"We don't have a Mezzanine."


"I know, it's on the Mezzanine at Mazza Gallerie with my massage therapist. I put it on the schedule as a Work-Life-Balance Symposium. Ain't it great to be in charge? See Ya!"

Over The Cubicle Chronicles: I Think It's Love

Jeffrey has been seeing Ian about a month now.  They only see each other once a week because of their schedules but each date has been more amazing than the one before.


Ian says he wants to take it slow to make sure it's real, they've both had failed relationships in the past so it makes perfect sense. But Jeffrey is ready to push the fast forward button on this relationship.


Jeffrey hears Brooke entering her cubicle.
"Good morning Brooke."


"Good morning Jeffrey."


Before Brooke could put her purse down Jeffrey plopped down in her visitor's chair. Smiling like a cat that just ate a canary.

"I take it you had another great weekend with Ian?"


"Girl, yes! I finally went to his house, he showed me around and he played the saxophone for me as I sat in his bedroom lounge chair.  Girl I could barely breathe!"


"And then?"


"Then I behaved and so did he. No hanky panky.  I think I'm being punked. This can't be real. If someone told me this was happening to them I'd say "LIES!"


Jeffrey heard the buzz of his phone from his cubicle and ran to get it.  Finally Brooke could at least put her purse down and log on to her computer.


 Not so fast!


Jeffrey reappeared with his phone in his hand and read a text from Ian:


"I just wanted to tell you that this weekend was amazing and I appreciate and am grateful for your friendship."


"FRIENDSHIP!" Jeffrey exclaimed.


"Where is the "I Love You" proclamation. Well I never!"


Brooke just smiled.


"Boy slow it down, that is a very nice text. He's letting you know he appreciates you."


Text him this: "This weekend was incredible and I hope there will be many more to come. I am appreciative of your friendship as well, have a great day."


Jeffrey typed the text and pushed send, then smiled and said to Brooke:


"I guess you're my Cyrano de Bergerac."


"Who?"


"Cyrano de..... The guy from Shakespeare who doesn't know how to talk to the woman he loves so he has someone hide and do it for him. Anyway, you're gonna be my Cyrano. You my darling will get that ring on my finger. Believe that!  Do they allow same sex marriages in DC?"


Jeffrey went to his cubicle to do some research on the topic.


"Boy Bye!"

Over The Cubicle Chronicles: Get Your Life!

Brooke and Jeffrey have been cubicle mates for close to 5 years now. They would even consider each other friends, but Brooke has been at the company for years and is known as the Company Matriarch.






Everyone knows her, respects her and some even envy her.








"Hey Brooke, you over there?"




"Yes Jeffrey."




"I thought I just saw you out front passing the hotdog cart. I waived and everything. "




"It wasn't me, I've been sitting in here for the past two hours."




"You do have that new silver metallic Toyota 4Runner don't you?"




"Yes Jeffrey."




"Hmm, that's strange, I was sure you waved back too."




Brooke stopped what she was doing, and thought to herself: Same SUV, same color, in front of the building, the wave back...




"That B*^ch!"




"Who, who's a  B*^ch?"




"Mickey, the B*^ch on the 3rd floor! First it was my hairstyles, then my clothes, my shoes, she even started taking selfies posing like me. And I heard she's going on a vacation to the same resort Wife and I just came back from."




"She is a B*^ch!"




"I heard she got a truck just like mine and drives to work to hide if from the snatch man."




"Absolutely shameful," Jeffrey taunted. "She's always been messy!"

Two weeks later....

"Brooke, you over there?"




"Yes Jeffrey."




"Guess who I just saw driving by in a beat up old hooptie?"




"Who?"




"Ms. Messy Mickey."




Brooke laughed, stood up and looked over in to Jeffrey's cube.




"Guess who called the snatch man to repo her life back? That would be me! Yasssss!"

Over The Cubicle Chronicles: Guess What, I'm Dating Someone...

Hi I'm Jeffrey. I'm just your average worker, working for an average organization, living an average life that's shared with my colleague over the cubicle.


Jeffrey recently met the owner of his local fitness club, and they hit it off immediately. They exchanged numbers and Jeffrey patiently awaited that first call or text with baited breath, and then it happened. "Hey, just checking in to see how your day is going."


Jeffrey couldn't believe it. He had sworn off love or ever finding a meaningful relationship. He just wasn't looking or in the market for it, but here it was a text, a "how is your day going?". Surely it must mean something.


So Jeffrey text back, with a pulsating heart, "my day is going amazingly!" And now he waited, staring at the screen on his phone....  And then the chirp of a text coming in, "great to hear that, we'll chat later."  O-M-G.  "We'll chat later..."  When is later, today, tomorrow, next week?


Jeffrey couldn't wait to go to work to share the good, no "great" news with Brooke, his cubicle mate.


"Girl, guess what? I'm dating somebody," Jeffrey told Brooke standing in the entrance of her cubicle.


"Dating somebody? Last week you were talking about you didn't have time to be texting or talking to anyone. Who are you dating, what the hell happened?"


Jeffrey went to his cubicle and got his phone and reappeared in Brooke's cube with his phone in hand and showed her the text.


"It just says "Hey, just checking in to see how your day is going." And you're dating? Get the hell out of here!" Jeffrey took his phone and went back to his cubicle.


"Well it's a start," he said over the cubicle wall as he stared at the text and ignored the constant ringing on the office's main phone line.


"Answer the DAMN phone Jeffrey!"

Surviving A Breakup

The days of laying in bed eating a pint of ice cream or drinking an entire bottle of wine or liquor are over. Look at a breakup as time for reinventing yourself.  Yeah I know it hurts, but very few people have actually died from a broken heart. You can do this, I have faith in you, have some faith in yourself.  Here are a few tips to help you through your breakup.

• Social Media ~ Stop trolling their social media accounts. Do you really want to see them out at festivals, traveling and fine dining, especially if their with someone new? You don't. And stop posting all those pics of yourself having a great time and posting subliminal messages if it's just a ploy to get their attention. Just lay back and be cool. And please, no drunk texts or calls in the middle of the night.

• Feeling Rage? ~ Don't kick the dog or beat up on yourself, hit the gym instead. Take a kick boxing class, go running, hit a tennis ball. You can get in shape while releasing that negative energy.

• Stop Scheming or Stalking to Get Them Back ~ Get yourself back. Resist the urge to drive by their place or show up at their gym when you know they will be there. Avoid those places like the plaque. Stop calling with gloom and doom and death at your door as if you think they'll coming running back to you. They won't.

• Don't Blame Yourself ~ It takes more than one person to cause a break up so feel free to share the blame. Stop questioning yourself with, "If only I had...." Some things were just not to be.

• Ready to Date Someone Else ~ Slow it down and take your time. Keep it casual and whatever you do don't bring up or compare the new Boo to your ex.

Keep in mind that someone might be on the other side of the closed door. Patience my love!

Don't Let These Mistakes Stand In The Way of True Intamacy

Most people want a healthy and loving relationship, otherwise why would they bother?  But not everyone knows how to get it right or how to make it work.

Photo Courtesy of:  Zawaj.com

Here are a few mistakes and how to avoid them (adapted from Dr. Bea M Jaffrey):

• Forgetting Mental Foreplay ~ This is especially true for women. It starts with her mind. Sometimes it can even start days before. But men can get in on the benefits too. Send a sentimental text. Remind  them of the reasons you fell in love with them. Get take-out and have a picnic on the living room floor. Be creative. It's true when they say it's the little things that count.

• Not Being Best Friends ~ I know this sounds cliché but it's true. You enjoy most things better with your best friend. When it's your lover it's the same. They should be your best friend. Take time to laugh together, share with one another and make sex a priority.

• Too Much Pornography ~ Watching porn is okay and sometimes it's a great stimulant and it can be something that you two can do together. But when it gets in the way of or replaces being intimate with your partner then it's a problem. Balance is the key.

• Not Having An Orgasm? ~ This mostly affects women, but men can suffer from it too. Statistics say that 95% of men reach orgasm when having sex with a partner, but only 69% of women do the same (Richters et al., 2006). You may need to employ other practices to reach orgasm. Try out different positions and other types of stimuli to reach optimum satisfaction. Win-Win!

Reach out and touch someone you love today!

Does Deleting Dating Apps Prove Your Committed?

You two meet on a dating site, now your relationship is blooming and going to the next level. Out of curiosity's sake you went back on that site to see if your boo still has their profile page, and bam, "YES" they do.


Do you think that the person you're in a relationship with should delete their dating apps?


Here are a few things to consider:

• Deleting their dating app shows that they are serious about your relationship and shows that they are ready to be exclusive

• It eases the anxiety that they have a wandering eye or are still out there looking for the next best thing

• It's clear that the focus is on your relationship

• When you become intimate and start talking about a future together is the right time to delete those apps

• It frees up emotional space to concentrate on the person in front of you

But remember, just deleting a dating app doesn't delete an account. Take that extra step together.

Do You Snoop On Your Boo?




He left his laptop open while he went to the gym. What the ........?  He said he was working on his taxes. These don't look like tax returns to me.  Who the hell is "Wanna Kiss Ya Mista".

She steps in to the shower and has left her cell phone on the dresser and it starts to buzz. Do you take a look to see who's calling or do you ignore it?  The vibration has it spinning like a top.  I mean who could ignore that? 

The "EXPERTS" say it's never a good idea to snoop on your significant other, and here's why:

• It Makes You The Untrustworthy One ~ Suppose you don't find a thing, now who's the sneak. It's you. When you're snooping your acting on fear, doubt and insecurity.

• Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right ~ If you feel like they're hiding something address it. Let them know that when they take the phone in the bathroom when it rings, or put it on silent whenever you're in the room is an issue for you. See if their behavior changes, or maybe they didn't realize that it was a problem for you in the first place.

• You're Still Suspicious ~ You've checked her emails, you've looked through his phone and didn't find anything. Now what? Is it possible they have a secret phone or a secret email account. You will never be satisfied because if someone doesn't want you to find something, you won't.

• What If You Do Find Something ~ Now your tasked with knowing the information and having to do something with it. If you say something to them, it's pretty much over and if you don't say anything it's over too.

If you feel the need to snoop, look at yourself, look at your partner, and look at your relationship and decide is this something you really want to do. Chances are there a red flags before you get to that point, and keep your eyes wide open, maybe you'll see something without snooping.








Photos Courtesy of:

MadameNoir

Forbes

Huffington Post













Full Disclosure: What to Discuss Before You're Intimate

Photo: "Bite of the Lip" Courtesy of Pinterest

So you think you're in love and you are ready to take the relationship to the next level. Or maybe you just want to get your groove on.  Either way, there are some things you should discuss with your partner before getting between the sheets.

• Status ~ Unprotected sex can lead to some pretty bad consequences, that could lead to Sexually Transmitted Diseases that can cost you your life. So know their status as well as your own. We know that it's an awkward conversation to have, but have the conversation you must.  Make a date of it, go to the clinic together and know your status.

• Pregnancies ~ Want a real blower? Right after having unprotected sex and you haven't used a contraceptive you start to wonder for the next four weeks if you're pregnant. All of a sudden your feeling nauseas in the morning and fatigued during the day. Remember, condoms and birth control are not 100%. So what's your plan.

• Sexual Exclusivity ~ Does he think you're in a monogamous relationship? Do you think you're the only one he's making out with? Have the conversation. It's not about pressuring them about just being with you, it's about making safe and informed decisions. Did they use protection with their previous partners? Are they sexually fluid? These are things you need to know.

• What's Your Preference In the Bedroom ~ It can embarrassing while getting down to the nitty gritty then suddenly your suddenly smacked on your rear end. Hey, I'm not in to that or you might scream "harder!" Whatever your sexual proclivities discuss them before hand or you just might get spanked.

Full Disclosure is key before being intimate with someone. I can be a little awkward but better before the deed than after. Happy Safe Sex!





Taylor Love Tells All: Happy Valentines Day: 5 Best Cities for Finding L...

Taylor Love Tells All: Happy Valentines Day: 5 Best Cities for Finding L...: Your 40's can be a great time to find love and companionship.  At this point in your life you know what you want and what you...

Happy Valentines Day: 5 Best Cities for Finding Love Over 40

Your 40's can be a great time to find love and companionship.  At this point in your life you know what you want and what you don't, or at least you should.  Game playing is over and you've developed in to the person you are now and so have they.  You're sure and confident and ready to share yourself and your life experiences with someone else on a level playing field.


Here are the top 5 cities of dating singles over 40:




1.  Tampa, Florida ~ This sunny city is flooded with singles, with more unmarried people over 40 than any other city in the country. Tampa has beautiful weather all year-round and the dating options are endless.


2.  Seattle, Washington ~ Boating, galleries and seafood all make the dating scene delectable. This northwestern city practically swarms with never married or divorced 40 and 50 somethings.


3.  San Francisco, California ~ Looking for love later in life? Look no farther. San Franciscans get married later in life than most, which means there are plenty of partners to choose from.


4.  Baltimore, Maryland ~ Hey! Baltimore has a surpassingly high number of available singles over 40. With jazz clubs, waterfront and great seafood its a perfect place for dating. Sports lovers; no problem check out the Orioles games at Baltimore's downtown stadium.  Not to mention it's close proximity to our Nation's Capitol and Annapolis.


5.  Atlanta, Georgia ~ "Hotlanta's" got a sexy nightlife that no only caters to the under 30 group, but the over 40 group as well. With newcomers to Atlanta flooding the city, there are lots of fish to choose from.


But most importantly, no matter what city you're in get out there and test the waters, you might be surprised at what you might find.

Commuter Train Chronicles: "Self-Gratification on the Silver Line"

When I ride the train I strategically pick where I'm going to sit. For instance, going to work I sit in the seat directly at the door, on the side I will be exiting, facing the front, with no seats in front of me. So when I get to work I can just pick up my bag and exit the train without crawling over everyone.


Conversely, on my ride home I sit on the opposite side from where I will be exiting, facing forward, where there are seats in front of me.  This too is strategic.  Typically I take a little nappy nap on the way home and feel a little safer with seats in front of me and away from the door where people will be entering and exiting.  Okay, so that's my thing. I'm telling you all this so you'll have a visual picture in your mind's eye.




This particular day when going home I did my usual, sat on the opposite side of the doors I'd be exiting, behind a row of seats, and readying myself for a snuggly ride home.  It was unusually quiet for a rush hour evening, UNTIL! 




We get to Potomac Avenue Station and I can see from the reflection in the glass that a Lil' Wayne look a like sits directly behind me.  Damn! He's sitting the long way on the seats like he's on a chaise lounge at a 5 star hotel, and I knew my ride was going to go straight off the tracks.  How the hell can I take a nap with this Joe behind me?  Across from me was a young lady in a really short skirt, reading a book in the seat I usually sit in going to work; the seat by the exiting door, with no seats in front of her.  You got the visual?  Okay hang on.




Well I guess he got bored staring at the back of my neck and decided to move to another seat, diagonally across and facing me, which put him sitting directly in front and facing the young lady in the short skirt.  But she can only see him from the chest up because of the Plexiglas upper partition with the white panel on the bottom, but I can see his whole body.


Still with me?  This is a lot of explaining about logistics to get to the real meat of this seedy mess.




(I've included this pic from my cell phone that I snapped the other day so that you can get a view of my vantage point.)

Now I can really see him. He's wearing an all black Helly Hanson ski suit, which seemed strange because even though it's winter, it was unseasonably warm that particular day. I'm trying not to stare but staring none-the-less.




He unzips his jacket and leans back in his seat. Okay, maybe he's ready for a little nappy nap too.


Oh but no, his focus is on the young lady in the short skirt who is totally unaware of what's going on because she's laser focused on her book.




So now I'm looking at him, looking at her and all of a sudden it's OUT! You know what I mean, IT was OUT (just like an old Seinfeld episode).




By now were approaching Stadium-Armory. Certainly he's afraid of being caught and will put IT back in. But oh no, he's unfazed by the opening and closing of Metro's train doors.


By the time we get to Capitol Heights Station it's out in it's full glory. I probably could identify IT in a line-up. Yes I kept looking! But as his eyes began to roll in the back of his head I could look no more. I knew what was coming next.




I get up from my seat and stand between him, the Plexiglas and the young lady. I'm sure he was cursing me out in his mind for blocking his view.




I get her attention and motion to my right with my eyes and ask her softly "Can that guy see up your skirt?" She looks down and repositions herself and says "Huh?" not really grasping what I've just asked her. "See that guy?" and I motion with my eyes again. "He's looking up your skirt and masturbating."




She jumps up, the book she was reading hits the floor, and I help her gather her things. We get off at Addison Road, switch cars and she is visibly upset and shaken.  We sit together speechless. We pass Morgan Boulevard, still no words.




"Next Stop Largo, Doors Opening on the Left."




We exit the train and start toward the escalator when we realize he's gotten off with us. We lock arms in solidarity and start down the escalator. He on the other hand boards the train on the opposite side of the platform heading back to D.C.




Careful ladies!




"Step Back, Doors Closing."

Taylor Love Tells All: Commuter Train Chronicles: "The Only Child" Part I...

Taylor Love Tells All: Commuter Train Chronicles: "The Only Child" Part I...:     ~From Yesterday~  We're pulling in to Penn Station in New York, and all of a sudden I get an uneasy queasy f...

Commuter Train Chronicles: "The Only Child" Part II

   

~From Yesterday~

We're pulling in to Penn Station in New York, and all of a sudden I get an uneasy queasy feeling in my stomach. My mind keeps going back to why it took so long for her Will to be disclosed. I’m sure it was some legal mumbo-jumbo. I instinctively check my purse. I hear so many horror stories about how ladies fall asleep on the train and wake up to their belongings GONE! Okay, no one took my purse while I was sleep. I checked the contents, okay nothing was missing.

I stood up and bumped my head on the overhead compartment. I'm awake for sure now.

I looked behind me and Missy had already headed for the exit. Oh well, bye Missy.

 

 

~Part II~

 

 

Good grief, people are everywhere. One of the great things about New York is you can always catch a cab. I check my watch and it’s only 12:30pm, plenty of time to get a piece of pizza from my spot across the street. I can’t claim it’s the best pizza in New York but it is damn cheesy and yummy. “Give me a slice of veggie with extra cheese and a Pepsi. Thanks” “Do you mind if I share this table with you?”  I ask a gentleman that is visibly on his lunch hour. He motions for me to sit down and I realize he’s having a conversation on his Bluetooth. You’re so cool on your little Bluetooth, and wearing your Brooks Brothers suit. I’ll admit it, I’m a name whore, so sue me.

 

Alright time to hit the pavement. I step out in front of the joint and flag down a cab. As always, split second timing. I jump in and off I go, “600 3^rd Avenue please.”

 

I press the up elevator button still feeling a little nauseous. My heart is racing now. I’m trying not to think about the Will; how much money am I getting, was there property I didn’t know about, businesses, stock portfolios…. “The fourteenth floor” says the elevator voice lady.

I haven’t been to my Uncle Aaron’s offices for quite some time. It’s quite daunting with large mahogany doors, brass door handles, and the smell of expensive leather.  “Hey Sherry, I’m here to see my Uncle Aaron.”  “It’s good to see you again Eva, it’s been a while. How’ve you been?”  “Good, good. No complaints.”  Sherry is really nice but I wasn’t in the mood for small talk. I plopped my behind in one of the leather chairs facing the conference room.  I could see Uncle Aaron talking to some young lady sitting at the table. Wait a minute, I recognized that red coat from the train. He waived and I stared at him quizzically. I could only see the back of her, that red coat, and that ponytail. What the hell is going on here.

 

The buzz from Sherry’s phone got my attention.  “Eva, Mr. Rappaport will see you now.” I looked at Sherry then back at the conference room where my Uncle motioned for me to enter, then looked at Sherry again. She shrugged her shoulders as if she could read my mind.  Who the hell was that in there and why was she sitting in on the reading of my Mom’s Will.

 

“Eva, how was your trip from DC?” “Fine” I said curtly looking at the young lady directly in the face.  She looked at Aaron.  “Well ladies, there is no easy way to say this, Eva, Ava meet your sister.”

 

Taylor Love Tells All: Commuter Train Chronicles: "The Only Child" Part ...

Taylor Love Tells All: Commuter Train Chronicles: "The Only Child" Part ...: "The Only Child"  I'm in an Uber racing towards Union Station to catch an Amtrak train from DC to New ...

Commuter Train Chronicles: "The Only Child" Part I

"The Only Child" 

I'm in an Uber racing towards Union Station to catch an Amtrak train from DC to New York for a 2pm meeting at the law offices of Aaron Rappaport & Feinstein. My play uncle Timothy Aaron is a partner there and he’s also the Executor of my Mom's estate.  My Mom died six months ago peacefully in her sleep (I thank the Lord for that) and her estate has been in sealed probate ever since and now he is ready to release the conditions of her Will. Finally, I can get some closure.

 

I've lived a pretty charmed life being the only child of my Father, a wealthy French Architect & an African-American New York socialite mother.  I attended the best schools, had the best friends, the best clothes, the best everything. But at the end of the day, they’re all accessories.  My family is where I got and still get my most joy. I’ve lived in DC for about seven or eight years now. I decided to stay after graduating from Georgetown University with a Masters in Art and Museum Studies. My job allows me a lot of freedom and flexibility; all my accounts are on the east coast, so it was a win-win for me. I was able to visit my Mom in New York while loving my time in DC without the crazy hustle and bustle of a major metropolis like New York.  DC can be pretty busy too, but it’s a different busy. It’s a comforting and warm busy.

 

I never wanted for anything and grew up on sure footing. I certainly don't need the money, my Dad made sure of that.  He died six years ago, almost one year to the day he and my Mom divorced and he left me and my Mom pretty well off. He moved to Chicago to work on some major architectural project a few years before the divorce, and the divorce seemed pretty amicable to me. He’d never been in the home much; always traveling from here to there so the divorce didn’t come as a shock to me. But it did come as bit of a shock to find out that my Mom's Will was sealed until an undetermined date, that's all my Uncle Aaron would tell me, "patience Eva, patience." So I waited, and two days ago I got the call. "Eva, I need you to be here next Wednesday at 2pm for the unsealing of your Mom's Will."  "I'll be there Uncle Aaron, I will definitely be there!"

 

As I stood on the platform a flash of red caught my eye. About a foot from me stood a woman, about my height, weight and complexion but about 10 years older. She had a slick black ponytail similar to mine, but I have bang. She was sporting a fierce red wool, high color coat with huge and I mean huge gold metallic buttons. And the boots! Black thigh high, black leather, with a block gold heel. Oh, and there’s more! On her shoulder was a white Hermes Birkin Bag. Oh yeah, I know my shit. Damn, she caught me staring.

 

Thankfully the train pulled in just in time. Amtrak is notorious for being late and having issues. Maybe I shouldn't say that, but it's true.

 

Because I’ve caught this train so many times before I was strategically standing on the platform where I knew the doors would open. My new friend in my head was standing just to the right of me. Sorry Missy but I’ll be getting on first. Hopefully we’ll sit in the same car where I get a better look at her. I know it seems a bit stalker-ish but hell what else do I have to do?

 

I boarded the train and found a seat near a window and stared at the wintery DC landscape as we sped away. As cold as it was in DC I knew New York would be twice as cold. Damn I should have gone to the dining car to get some tea before we pulled off. There is no way in hell I'm gonna move now and loose this premier seat.

 

Missy (that’s what I’ve decided to call her) sat in the seat directly behind me. As she slid in her seat she hit me in the damn head with her fancy Birkin bag. “Excuse me,” I said over my shoulder, shooting her the stink eye. You’re not that cute Missy. “No worries” she said. What does she mean “no worries,” she’s the one that hit me in the damn head.

 

I guess I dozed off at some point and woke to the attendant nudging my shoulder. Is that what they're called, the attendant? I try to be mindful of people’s titles. People are so touchy these days.

 

We're pulling in to Penn Station in New York, and all of a sudden I get an uneasy queasy feeling in my stomach. My mind keeps going back to why it took so long for her Will to be disclosed. I’m sure it was some legal mumbo-jumbo. I instinctively check my purse. I hear so many horror stories about how ladies fall asleep on the train and wake up to their belongings GONE! Okay, no one took my purse while I was sleep. I checked the contents, okay nothing was missing.

I stood up and bumped my head on the overhead compartment. I'm awake for sure now.

 

I looked behind me and Missy had already headed for the exit. Oh well, bye Missy.

~Check Back Tomorrow for Part II ~

 





Do What Makes You Happy

It's the end of the work week and a good time to reflect. If you're like most of us the week starts on Monday, sitting in rush hour traffic or catching the train to our 9 - 5 day jobs.  We move through the day mindlessly and pick up our purses, hats and coats and sit in rush hour traffic or catch the train back home, only to do it all again the following day.

We've all heard the sayings "Life is Short," and "Tomorrow isn't Promised," and they are both true. So I ask that each of you take a moment or moments each day that are just for you. For me it's first thing in the morning when I make a cup of tea and pull out my journal and write down my hopes, my dreams, what I want for the day, for my future and what happened the day before. I write funny things about myself, I release things that make me sad and I start my day feeling fresh and energized. At the end of the day I run a lavender bubble bath and wash it all away.

When we are happy we are at our best. Happiness is different for all of us but when you are happy you exude positive energy which means you will attract the same.

Watching you at your happiest sets an example to others. Misery loves company and so does happiness. Who would you rather be around?

Happiness breads healthiness; happier people are healthier people. Misery attracts negative energy and negativity will manifest in your body and create health issues.

So today and everyday do something that makes you happy.