The New Normal. (Another Subway Story)

Oh so we’re just gonna act like that didn’t happen!?!
Venturing throughout this city, I have found the most unusual quirks, people, settings, and daily routines. I guess these factors are what makes New York...New York. One common denominator is, people just accept it "as is”. No major complaints or that brave soul to stand up and say "Hey, that's weird. Stop it!" New Yorkers go on about their day as if they'd be lost if these occurrences didn’t happen.

I've talked about subway rides before. (Check out “Welcome to New York: The Subway Story”). People getting up speaking their truth, pleading a case for money (which happens everywhere). Within the station, you have your indie and starving artists entertaining the masses with drums, guitars, and a mic stand hoping to get discovered or at least a few dollars to last them for the week. I respect the hustle!

But you haven’t experience a TRUE subway ride unless you’ve seen a full on magic show. Yep, colorful scarves, card tricks, and even a rabbit out of the box. Now how do you hide a rabbit and make it just "appear" on a train!? And it’s the SAME magician hops from car to car putting on his show. Now I love the entertainment but no one thinks that’s a bit…different. And there is no, hey cut the music down or I’m not in the mood for a magic show today….hard day at work. Whatever the space or the crowd’s mood, the show goes on!
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Let’s not forget about the dance crews hopping on a semi-crowded car. Looking normal as ever. Just a couple of guys going on about their day on public transportation. Until… You hear a request for riders to clear a path in the middle so they can successfully do their routine. That is when you know, a show is about to begin. Flips on the poles (not in a stripperish way), body contortions, break dancing, and GOD knows what else.

Then there’s the unorganized randoms. The flashy man blasting this reggae song on a portable radio and keeping it on repeat. Is this his music?! Promoting that mixtape “coming soon” bruh? At least skip to the next track. And I’ll never forget that GOD forsaking chorus line, nor the seated dance moves accompanied with it. 

And just when you think you’re going to have a normal ride home, a man standing by the door in head phones carries out his “dance dance revolution” routine. Nobody bothers him, nobody cares. It’s just a normal day on the subway. 

No one put these performers on a schedule. No one asked for it. But one thing I know for sure, when the entertainment is done, be prepared to dig for dollars or change to support the arts.

Now let’s step off the train. Police officers in full gear with rifles. RIFLES!?!? What happened? Oh nothing they are just set on ready just in case something major happens. And with NYC being a target for terrorist attacks, I’m actually glad for that anomalous.

​All the while, I look around and it’s normal. Not a lot of people recording on their camera phone as if it's a wondrous sight, no one complains, no one cares. Just keeping it moving as if this is a normal day. That's just the way it is. 

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Welcome to my new normal...Gotta LOVE New York! ​

​The Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown) is a New York City author/blogger from Macon, GA. Recently, she released the book series, the Heartbreak Diaries outlining different perspectives of heartbreak. The Dahlia Diaries is a lifestyle blog penned by The Blakk Dahlia, sharing her story in NYC along with life lessons and tips she's learned in her journey.