A Little Humour From The TTC

Something must have happened at city hall on Wednesday. Mayor Miller must have told all Toronto Transit Commission employees that if they make passengers laugh while they travel they get a big honking bonus. It's the only explanation I can think of to explain why the normally nice TTC drivers have broken out the funny. Streetcar drivers have been cracking jokes about Christmas shopping between stops, subways drivers have been cracking up riders with amusing and informative quips about the ills of rushing the doors. I've even had the pleasure of watching street car drivers play little pranks on each other.

Whatever the reason, it's having a effect on my transit experience. Riders who are normally trying their best to vie for space and score the latest vacant seat have their demeanor softened by a collective chuckle. I know it's cheese, but there really isn't anything like the power of laugher on a crowd. It totally disarms and leaves people with a little something to smile about.

Maybe the TTC should start hiring comedians to drive.

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On another note, I'm feeling less fatalistic today. I wrapped most of my Christmas presents last night while watching as many of the musical numbers from The Sound Of Music as I could before M came into the living room. I got as far as Do Re Mi, which is fine because the all important 16 going on 17 was heard and gleefully sung along to. Sadly I didn't get to listen to the final singing of Edelweiss, where the Von Trapps and the Austrian people unite in song against the Anchulss before escaping into the Austrian Alps (please pardon my all out attack on German spelling). Really we need more of that in films.

Today's sing-a-long song: "I Have Confidence In Me" from The Sound Of Music.

HRH