You all are going to think I am insane but I prefer to be out and about in the city in the middle of the night. Believe it or not, people are nicer and more friendly.  Of course, traffic and parking are easier but the city has a different groove when you live in that universe.  Everything moves at a different speed.

I can remember when my husband and I both worked at night.  Wednesday, well early Thursday mornings, we would go to the 24 hour supermarket after work and do our weekly grocery shopping.  The checkers got to know us and would chat about this and that every week.  Eventually we would walk into the store and it would be a party at the check out with us chatting about our week.  I don’t think this would happen if we had been daywalkers. Also at this time we used to frequent the post office at 30th Street Station.  We were forever mailing packages for the band.  The same woman was always at the window and after a while we were all on a first name basis.

When I first started to working nights again I was  scared to be out so late with so few people around.  After a while I got used to it. I found my friend Raj in the middle of the night. Raj drives a cab and after having many crazy cab drivers I asked him if he wanted a regular fare in the middle of the night.  Over time we have become friends.  He is from India.  His wife and kids are still there but he recently jumped through all the hoops to become a citizen here.  When he was studying for his citizenship test he would bring the questions with him to work and I would quiz him and answer questions for him all the way home.  Many a winter Monday he would stay working till I got off work so that he knew I could get home safe.  If he ever had a fare that made it impossible to get me he would send his roommate who had a spanking new tricked out cab.  Over the winter Raj returned home to move his family here. I am still waiting on his return although when I need a cab I call his roommate.

Lately, I have been driving into work more because my husband has a motorcycle and on nice days he drives to work.  I have been parking at a garage near my job.  The guys at the garage totally spoil me.  When I forget to leave my keys they walk over to the bar and get them so I don’t have to pay the $20 “you didn’t leave your car key fee”, they check me out at 2am so that I only pay the evening special rate even though I get off at about 3am, and my car is always waiting by the door for me.  This past Monday it was chilly, as I walked up not only was my car ready it was warmed up with the heat on!

I think that people who work late into the night have this instant camaraderie.  I am not sure why but I really like it, except when I have to get up the next morning.