On the N A collection of drawings, observations and thoughts from the passengers of the busiest Muni line in San Francisco.
For three days in February 2015, I spent my morning on the N Judah line, riding the train back and forth from the Brakers to the Bay. I approached passengers - locals and visitors, of all ages and asked them to write something about their ride on the line, or to look around and draw a portrait of someone who was riding with them. Everything I collected has been compiled into these two little booklets. The short anectodes written by passengers have been combined to form longer stories.
Margherita Buzzi + 58 participants
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Outbound to: Ocean Beach 8:30 am
I got on the N line today and I noticed the driver gave me a transfer that was only good for 1 1/2 hours. Morning outbound is significantly less crowded. I was happy to get a seat by myself. Afternoon ... Complete opposite. I see familiar strangers who ride this line with me everyday. It’s a warm day with the sun shining this morning. The train stopped for a extended amount of time at Church street. The Driver said nothing for some unknown reason. He does not open all of the doors at stops. He also often fails to wait for passengers to finish on boarding before closing them. I find it extremely annoying when they do this. Aside from enjoying a sweet 18 minute nap, I’m mentally preparing to sit down for 6 1/2 hours of classes today at USCF. I’m hungry and I have to poop. I need one more cup of coffee. Guy just got off who was cruising me big time. Made me feel good about myself. He was younger and cute and listening to headphones. 2
When I ride the N-Judah I am always nervous because there are some mentally ill people on the bus. Saw one today and he like went to my face and stared at me. 3
Inbound to: Downtown 10:00 am
I took N line 10 minutes later than usual. Running late to work (10 am). I was concerned that maybe I would miss it. It is very quiet the first stops until 9th and Irving. The faces of passengers are not the familiar ones. However, it is less crowdy. People look tired today, staring down at their phones. The sun is shining through the windows. I feel nostalgic, and I think I don’t want to live in a city anymore. Anyway, I have begun a journey into writing everyday. And knowing the N-Judah is the straight-shot to 1st and Battery, I know I have a good amount of time to write. I’ve embarked on a journey of “The Weekend Novelist” by Robert J. Ray. His book is very pregnant with sources for the burgeoning writer. He says writing is a craft and requires a lot of skill and practice. Anyway, along the journey there are many tasks to take on. One is to read three literature pieces and to study character development. And then to see how story is constructed differently amongst three additional authors. So to begin with 4
I am to read “The Accidental Tourist”. Then I’m to read “The Sun Also Rises” by Hemingway and also “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. But before reading those, I’m writing recollections of past experiences - memories of my teenage years.
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Inbound to: Downtown 10:30 am
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Today N-Judah line is slow again getting out to the sunset. Just glad the train is not packed with people at least! I’m not complaining! I love the Muni. It is convenient and lets me save money on gas.
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Inbound to: Downtown 11:00 am
I got here with a shorter interval than usual, which was nice. I saw a “mansion” or large victorian house and wondered what the house was used for/by whom when it was originally built, as I know some homes in the Mission had garages for their horses. The N-Judah serves very different people at different times. If you have children or are a senior, it’s probably a good idea to wait until after 10 am to use it. Then people can enjoy the system much more as they get to where they are going. Watching kids play is more fun than watching kids nervously stuffed in crowds! I noticed the girl across from me looks like her dad. “Jraffitti. The cealing is grose. I don’t want to toch nothing.”
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Outbound to: Ocean Beach 11:30 am
Well, I am sitting next to the love of my life. My thoughts are usually for her, and how lucky I am to have her in my life. It’s such a beautiful thing to share your morning with someone special. Enjoying our ride, just arrived in San Francisco on the Queen Victoria. We are going to visit the De Young museum in Golden Gate Park! It’s great how helpful the locals are on giving directions/ assistance when someone looks lost or asks for help. Just want to get to Golden Gate. Trains are confusing...
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Outbound to: Ocean Beach 11:45 am
Women. They torture me in that special, slow kind of way. I love them, I need them, I respect them, I cherish them. They smile and wink and swing their hips to the beat that bumps and blasts echoing, conniving to set us all. My life revolves around women. I wake up and breathe in women. I go to sleep and turn the women off. Still they sneak into my dreams.They smile at me in the mirror and I turn around and see no one.
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Inbound to: Downtown 12:00 am
The air has a heaviness to it on the N today. Very quiet and peacefull, lovely day. Every morning I ride the end and I always am reminded of the same concept. Addiction and attachment. ‘Physically’, I see beings glued to phones forced into the habitual roll of “worker bee” by authority. Every time I ride the N, I remember that I am in a cell, and motivated to find the key out. Today, I was able to get a seat, which hasn’t happened to me in months. Quiet today, too quiet. Many people reading. Smiling faces always on the N. Making eye contact with people can be hard sometimes (everyone is looking at their smartphone) but I try to catch someone’s attention and smile. I wonder how many people have used my seat before me? I wonder if I have ever sat in this seat on this car before?
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San Francisco, February 2015
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