Ever zone out while driving and miss an exit? Embarrassing, right? It’s bad enough if it’s just your wife and kids in the car, imagine what it might feel like if you were driving, say, several hundred commuters on their way home. If you’re really curious, the conductor of a recent train to Harrison might be able to explain the sensation.

It was apparent that something was amiss as the train rolled into the Mamaroneck station…and kept rolling. As I watched my familiar platform whiz by, I had a thought that I’m sure many of my fellow commuters shared: “Boy, somebody just screwed up, and I really hope it wasn’t me.”

About a minute or so past the platform the train began to slow. Over the garbled P.A. system I heard someone ask “You OK up there Mike?” followed by a sheepish “Yeah.” The train came to a stop and began a slow ride of shame back to Mamaroneck.

As we pulled into the station (again) someone on the P.A. made a joke about wanting to see how nervous they could make us. It wasn’t that funny but we all smiled anyway.

Somebody had screwed up, but it wasn’t us.