Notes from Underground

FIGARO, FIGARO!

I've been riding the Metro for way too many years. I've seen more than my fair share of amusing folks.

A gentleman boarded the train, in a cape and mask, during rush hour. It was not Halloween. He proceeded to break out into songs about his life, in opera form. I thought to myself, "Oh, lordy, nobody will ever believe this one." As I got up to leave the train, there sat my sister-in-law, laughing hysterically. She had witnessed the opera star as well.

-- Rachel Krushinski, Fairfax

BAGGAGE CHECK

One of the most hilarious incidents I witnessed involved a man and his suitcase. The voice had already announced "doors closing" when the man started running to get on. He wasn't fast enough, but his suitcase managed to make it inside safely before the doors closed completely.

-- Ye Wang, Washington

OM MY

On the Red Line, we have a female jogger who -- dressed in form-fitting spandex and "glistening" (i.e. sweating) -- boards the train, moves to the back and begins a series of provocative stretches and yoga poses. She then pulls out a carton of yogurt from her bag, laps it up like a cat, curls up in a rear seat and promptly falls asleep.

-- Rosemary Austin, Silver Spring

METRO BOY

My most surprising Metro moment was neither strange nor bizarre: It was where I met my partner of a year and a half. During the summer of 2004, I was living temporarily with some friends in the city while trying to find an affordable rental. My morning commute from Columbia Heights to College Park was always highlighted by the appearance of a quiet, yet beautiful, young gentleman quickly dubbed "Metro Boy."