My commute to and from work on the B train is usually a humdrum experience. If I'm not daydreaming about romance, a la Robert DeNiro and Meryl Streep in Falling in Love, I'm people-watching -- whether it's a student read a textbook while sitting or a businessman use a briefcase as a battering ram while moving between cars.
Seeing a local celebrity double as a straphanger isn't an everyday occurrence, so when I spotted John Noel riding the train with his fellow passengers on June 4, I did a double take. He looked the same in person as he does on television, and he didn't come across as being pretentious. Like myself, he was probably looking forward to going home after putting in eight hours -- give or take a few -- on the job.
This sighting reminded me of when I crossed paths with Ernie Anastos last summer at Dylan's Candy Bar. While Noel managed to go unrecognized in the subway, Anastos was immediately identifiable at the confectionary store -- thanks to the crowd of admirers surrounding him.
When I was younger, I dreamed of being rich and famous, traveling around New York in a Town Car as I ran errands. Now, as a working stiff, I value my privacy so much until I'm content navigating the five boroughs with a MetroCard.
