Coffee shop in Secaucus Junction train station. By Jean Bredin. Blogfinger staff © Jan. 12, 2021 ©
Jean Bredin was heading back to Ocean Grove from Fort Lee. She had to take a train in Hoboken, which was 3 minutes late in Secaucus, so she had to sit here for two hours waiting for the next train to Long Branch, and then on to Asbury Park .
This sad looking coffee shop was doing a slow business. Jean said, “The owner said that he went from over 2,000 customers daily to maybe 6.”
She spent the time sipping coffee and taking a few pictures. “Happy to get warm and have coffee while waiting for my train. ”
But the tragedy isn’t Jean’s missed train, it is the sobering reality of this dreary coffee shop with its sad looking customers–a place usually bustling with commuters going and coming, hurrying, quick chats—even with strangers, munching on bagels, sipping a cup of Joe, offering a seat to a lady, grabbing a newspaper, glancing at a watch, checking a phone–talking or texting or laughing, or just spending time, like Jean, people-watching and enjoying it all—feeling alive.
But then Jean—faces reality and COVID-19. She wonders why those guys aren’t wearing masks; and out comes the camera. Soon she’ll be home in the Grove.
Let’s hope that this year will allow all of us to rejoin life again—before the parade passes by.
–Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net
BETTE MIDLER from Hello Dolly.
