Green Point Mobil. March 5, 2011.

“THANKS FOR YOUR BUSSINESS” is probably not intended as a nod to the occasional bus driver that purchases gas at this Mobil station. “BUSSINESS” is a long-running typo that has been present on the receipts of this business for many years. The separation, too, of the “GREEN” and “POINT” is also erroneous, since Greenpoint is a single word when referring to Greenpoint Avenue or to the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn.

This gas station/food mart is at a noisy and disagreeable intersection. It is sort of a no-man’s-land between Long Island City and Blissville. For such a central artery of traffic this area is reasonably safe on weekends, but as a pedestrian one must be extremely alert whence crossing the street during weekday rush hour times. All the stop lights around here are routinely ignored by drivers who are hankering to get on to the Long Island Expressway, and when crossing the street it is wise to simply wait for cars to stop moving instead of relying on the Walk/Don’t Walk lights or other traffic signals. I make a point of making eye contact with drivers, to gain some assurance that my right of way will be respected.

A few weeks ago a courier stopped me to ask if there was a subway nearby. This was near Calvary Cemetery, on a sidewalk near the Long Island Expressway. I quickly told him dude, there is no train around here. The nearest one, I said, was probably the 7 train back on Queens Boulevard. I then said that if he kept walking “that way” (pointing toward Greenpoint/Brooklyn) he would eventually find a G train. I thought he said he was looking for 35-something 53rd Street, which doesn’t make sense now that I look for it on a map. 50-something Street might be on the other side of Calvary. Maybe I mis-heard his questions, but based on his demeanor, and now that I look up what streets I can remember him mentioning, the courier dude seemed completely lost.

I at least gave him accurate info in the dearth of trains in that area, re-assuring him twice that trains do not exist in this immediate vicinity. Telling him that the G train was “thattaway” was probably not of much use to him. I later realized I could have told him to take the B24 bus to Greenpoint, where I think it meets a G train at some point. He was definitely looking for a 35-something street address, for I was able to confirm to him that yes, the first number in a Queens street address reflects a nearby cross street. 35th Street was nearby, and I pointed him toward that, though I think he already knew it was there. As we parted ways he said “I fucking hate this shit,” referring to the street address and numbering scheme of this borough.

One of these days I will find the energy to get a job as a courier. I know I would enjoy it.