Subway in the Subway

Is it alright to eat on the go? Sometimes, if there is no other option,  I grab a subway sandwich and eat it while I am waiting for my train. 

Having a quick bite to eat while you are walking or going someplace is ok, but make sure its not too messy. Burritos explode, falafels drip, coffee spills, and sandwiches fall apart. Make sure you have a good handle and extra napkins. 

Out of courtesy for others, do not eat smelly foods in tight public spaces like the trains or leave garbage behind. 

Grieving Periods

Whether it's your twenty year old kitten, or a family friend, deaths are very sensitive times for people. If they mention it to you, do your best to give condolences and try to comfort them. 

I went to my first Shiva - Jewish mourning service- recently and had no idea what to expect. Wikipedia research only scared me, and I then scared my whole family, into thinking that we weren't to speak to anyone or eat anything. Wikipedia must have only been to very strict Shivas because it was really a lovely gathering of people who loved the father, son, brother, husband, nephew, uncle, artist, teacher, lover, friend.

Still, I took away some very smart and considerate ways to approach grieving people:

Attending the service shows your support and sympathies, and flowers are nice too. 

Don't expect to have conversations with family or those close to the deceased. They may need quiet time and will turn to you if they want. 

If you do have a conversation with someone who is grieving let them choose the topic and do not suggest your own. You can't presume what they are comfortable speaking about. 

A service is not a party so take cues from the hosts about the tone. Some people wish to be remembered with joy, others are taken unexpectedly and painfully. 

It is not a good place to catch up with people you haven't seen in years - but it does remind us how short life is, who we love, and why don't we see each other more often! 

Wearing black, white, colors, torn ribbons, crosses, brandishing handkerchiefs... is again specific to the person who passed and their family. No wrong from inquiring about what is expected from you. 

Wardrobe: A Tight Spot

Ladies can find themselves in a very uncomfortable wardrobe conundrum regarding their stockings. The ones we refuse to throw out, even though they do this every single time. Treacherous back-stabbing garments that fall out of place and slip half way to our knees! What is a girl to do?

Is it Ok to give them a hoist back to your crotch? Is this not what baseball players and other jocks are ridiculed for? Should we draw attention to it by pinching and pulling and squirming? Can we always find a bathroom? As you can see stockings can be terrifying - and unless you can turn your adjustments into a playful strip tease... 

No, you can't ditch the tangling tights, not in the cold months and not in formal-formal situations. They are part of a sometimes nonsensical attire and they ought to stay put. We put up with them struggling in abandoned corners, tugging in restrooms, or trying to just put them out of our minds.