I’m in decent shape (brag). Being in good health enables me to traverse cities during family vacations (often requiring 30,000+ step per day). Walking to and from various destinations is our family’s primary form of transportation. However, in order to get to all the attractions, we sometimes need to utilize other means of travel.
Since I live in the suburbs, I don’t spend a lot of time on public transportation. Most of the cities we travel to provide some type of train (subway, “L”, bullet, monorail, freight, Thomas, “Drops of Jupiter,” etc.). Our three boys love playing Lewis and Clark. They’ll use maps, signs, and apps to help us efficiently get from Point A to Point B. By the end of vacation, they’re identifying line colors like Jeff Bridges in Blown Away (underrated). Of course I double check their recommendations to ensure we don’t end up in a Judgement Night situation (underrated). However, as much as they can learn from my navigation skills, they’re on their own when it comes to one aspect of train riding…
Jab Step (in the NBA) – a deceptive offensive move where a player quickly steps forward or to the side with their non-pivot foot, mimicking a drive or shot attempt to force a reaction from the defender.
Jab Step (on a train) – when the train begins to move, a clumsy defensive move where a commuter quickly steps forward or to the side with either foot, unsuccessfully trying to regain their balance forcing a reaction of disgust from the locals.
The worst part is not taking the jab step. The worst part is knowing that I am going to take the jab step and not being able to stop it. Or, maybe the worst part is knowing that I am going to take the jab step, still taking it, pretending that I didn’t take the jab step, and seeing the look of disappointment on my kids’ faces knowing that I took the jab step.
Seriously, how does everyone else remain stationary? The girl next to me is standing up, clutching her laptop case, a pineapple is poking through one of her three plastic grocery bags, she’s juggling mattresses , riding a skateboard (that’s missing a wheel), catching a fly with chopsticks, and getting Wordle in two, and the only movement she makes as the train departs is when she shakes her head at me after I take a two yard jab step.
Maybe I need to spend more time in the city? Maybe I need to take yoga? Maybe I need to do more core work? Maybe I need to create a dance so that when I do take a jab step I transition it into some flashy move that makes me look like I’m levitating? Maybe I live with it…just like I live with not being able to read or scroll through my phone on a train…it hurts my tummy.
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