Daily rituals

Not everything can be exciting, fresh, and new all the time. In life, the mundane happens. Quite frequently in fact. We establish patterns, exhaust all possible variances, and settle comfortably into our ruts. But we, as humans, have so many ruts to maintain, it can be quite a challenge.

Take for instance, one rut we never seem to be able to completely master- our morning commute. Something that on the surface that seems so simple gets awfully complex in surprising ways. Four people need to get to four places by certain times, and that's that, right? Well, you be the judge.

On a typical day, we all start together. This works out well, considering we all live in the same home. I won't bore you with all the pains leading up to the first morning deadline, but needless to say getting two children (and two adults) who are prone to sleepiness and often resent morning wakefulness is a hearty challenge. However, our morning goal is to be headed out the door as the clock in the living room chimes 8:00 a.m. It is a wonderful goal, yet we hardly ever make it. Most mornings, we troop out around 8:05 (and as you will see, every minute becomes precious). Any later, and it destroys any plans of on-timeness, and often happiness, for hours to come.

The first drop-off is Nico, about a half-mile away. The most efficient route is already established (up Madison to Seventh, Seventh to Washington), but along this route there are two obstacles (as well as the occasional poorly-timed garbage truck). The first of which is the Catholic School at Seventh and Madison, where parents are dutifully dropping off their children, and drivers hope they do not obstruct the roadway in the process. The second, and more menacing obstacle is the Hoboken Cross-Town Bus. The Hoboken Cross Town Bus (HCTB, which is better than how I refer to it under my breath) seems to have been developed with a single nefarious purpose in mind: to slow any progress of other motor vehicles. If I were more paranoid, I could conclude that it was specifically designed to torment me, but that is a bit egotistical and not nearly as menacing. Either way, the coincidence of schedules of our departure and the HCTB rampage through Hoboken are a bit shady.

As we drive up Madison, we often see the HCTB cross our path along Fifth, and the race is on. The intent is to get past 7th and Adams, where the HCTB gets on Seventh for a stretch of road that involves a stop-light and a series of stop-signs. If we get in front of the HCTB, we're in the clear. If it beats us to Seventh, we endure minutes of agony, rolling behind a bus that seems to stop randomly and excessively, and maxes out at about 5 mph. It also seems impervious to honking.

The whole rush to get to Nico's school revolves around another Hoboken scheduled event, the street sweeper on the east side of Washington street. The street sweeper event is a kind of double edged sword, on one hand the threat of a parking ticket is bad, but it does open up parking spaces for this drop-off and later in the commute. Thankfully, the bad end is only relevant when there's only one adult managing the commute. When flying solo, the tricky part is taking Nico into the school (with Thurman in tow) and managing a quick (yet loving) drop-off with as few tears spilt as possible. Because the street sweeper is coming, or more importantly, the lady in the little mini-car that issues the $35 parking tickets is coming. Usually it comes around 8:20-25, but it certainly can vary. On days when it is early, we have to find another place to park, which can be difficult to do. Of course, with two legal drivers the problem is easily solved and the other can simply drive around the block to get out of the way. Honestly, it's probably a miracle that's we've only gotten two parking tickets so far in two years off drop-offs.

The next stop is Thurman's school, where he has line-up at 8:30 to go to his class. We never, ever want to be late for this because 1) it makes Thurman incredibly upset to be late, (I can relate) 2) you have to turn him over to the security guard if he is late, which makes school feel more like prison, and 3) because it makes me feel like a horrible, inadequate, borderline parent. The good thing is that we are rarely late, even on single-parent-drop-off-days. Though, again, it is much easier with two as the other can simply double-park, and drop off, which does make the next challenge easier.

After depositing our eldest, the race is back on. There is a Mid-town ferry that leaves the 13th Street Hoboken ferry terminal at 8:40, though there is a slight chance of reprieve since it is occasionally delayed by the previous ferry (bound for downtown Manhattan). With two, this is usually easy. However, due to the nature of all the one-way streets, layout of Hoboken, and lack of availability of legal parking near the school, it is much more difficult on my own. Trying to navigate the one-ways is difficult enough, but any deviation from the route (detours around flooded streets, downed wires, police interference) or mishaps (garbage trucks, police pulling me over, fires) guarantees I will not make the 8:40 ferry.

Even if you make it to Washington Street on time to park, it still all depends on the street sweepers progress. Vacated spots are abound, but do you no good if the sweeper has not done its duty. If the sweeper is running late, you will be too. If it is too early, the spots may already be all taken.

The worse case scenario is that I don't make the 8:40 ferry. There's another at 9:00, which gives me a little time to sit and listen to Mike & Mike for 10 minutes or so before going to catch it. Regardless of which ferry I take, the result is the same (excepting the 20 minute delay). I ride the ferry, then take the ferry bus to 5th Ave listening to audiobooks, or reading, or watching something, or lightly napping along the way. I honestly need that little bit of rest each day just to recover from the stresses of drop-offs.

Yeah, in a town that's only one square mile, you'd think orchestrating drop-offs, etc. would be easier. At least next year, there's the prospect of having both boys attend school in the same building. But I'm sure the fiends behind the HCTB will find a way to make it more difficult and complicated. Regardless, it sure beats living in Manhattan.