Strike 2005. New York City is having its first subway strike in over 20 years. Just before Christmas, so we'd notice. The union wants a bigger retirement plan and the MTA is giving only up to a point.
This morning was an adventure just trying to get into the city.
My hubby and I tried to be responsible employees, and had called a car service last night to reserve transportation to pick us up at 6:30am. Six-thirty comes and goes, no car. We call them up to doublecheck, the night dispatcher forgot to forward the info to the day shift. We have to wait. How long? (insert East Asian accent) Twehn-tee mee-nuts. Okay, we could live with that. Twenty minutes come and go. We call back. Fife mee-nuts. Fife mee-nuts later we're on foot searching for another car service. One offered to take us into Manhattan for $60 apiece! How generous. Another wasn't going into Manhattan at all due to the heavy traffic. 
We finally found that Bensonhurst car service was charging reasonable rates and would take us as far as the NY Water Taxi.
The dispatcher was courteous and told the truth about the long wait.
A small group of people were there ahead of us and, as New Yorkers tend to do in difficult situations, we started to chat.
I learned today that most dedicated New Yorkers were going in to work for 3 reasons:
1. No vacation or benefits to cover the day off.
2. Did not want to have to deal with grouchy boss on return.
3. If you got in late, there would be less hours in the day to work.
Okay... so maybe we're not so dedicated.
Our chariot arrived about 90 minutes later and we were on our way, on to the Belt Parkway. Traffic was good, the scenery pleasant. The best part of living in Bensonhurst is being so close to the water.
And the view of the Verrazano is spectacular.
We arrived at the ferry/water taxi terminal and found there were a few people there ahead of us.
Did I say a few? Make that over 900 people waiting in the freezing cold!
Except for the opening of Star Wars, the original, I've never been on such a long line. When we finally boarded my hubby and I were counted as passengers 930 and 931.
Once we got to the other side of the river, it was business as usual.
Now then, how do I get home?
