Well, I think I remembered to bring everything home after a bunch of days at the Cape–iPod, SPF 101 sunblock, very funny hardcover of Tom Rachman’s The Imperfectionists.
Everything, that is, except my brain.
I took off last Thursday, meaning the last monthly pass I had to show was June, which is ancient history a week into July. It dawned on me that I hadn’t transferred my new July pass into my wallet just after I’d steered the bike down Heartbreak Hill on Astor Avenue; with the temps climbing to around 135 degrees this morning, I wasn’t about to head back up and take a later train.
I spent the first half of my train ride working out my strategy, which amounted to playing dumb when it was pointed out that my monthly pass was now worthless. I’d already used up the once-per-lifetime mulligan that Metro-North gives you when you forget your new monthly. That’s great and all, but that means you’re still shelling out 12 bucks or so for a one-way ticket home.
I was in the 1 3/4-seater, which was fantastic on two fronts: The AC was positively humming, and I figured the conductor would be more likely to let me slide with no one within earshot/eyeshot to cry foul.
The conductor came around and I whipped out my wallet, showing him June. It’s only two letters different from July, I reasoned; maybe Mr. Conductor left his brain up in the Cape too.
Alas, no.
“That’s June,” he said.
I acted surprised.
“I, uh, duh, well, ya know. Just got back from vacation late last night,” I tried.
The moment of truth.
“Make sure you have it tomorrow,” he said, or something similarly wonderful.
I won’t give specifics so I don’t get the guy in trouble. I’ll even hide my identity and my destination town and my train time to further throw his bosses off the trail. Let’s say my name is Manny, I live in Rye, and I was on the 7:18 this morning. Wait, Rye has too many coyotes. Let’s say…Harrison.
Anyway, if I’m reading this correctly, I should be able to use my old monthly with impunity on the return trip this evening, then will grab my July monthly.
Assuming, of course, I remember to grab it tonight.
the guy on your train home might not be in as nice a mood as the guy from this morning. its July 6th they dont have to take your June Monthly. If i were you i would buy a regular peak ticket from the ticket machine in case the conductor refuses to honor your June monthly (which he is not supposed to). buying a ticket on the train will cost you an additional $6.50 on top of the ticket price. if for some reason he does take the June monthly on the way home you can always get a refund for the one-way ticket you purchased.