A Thousand Times No

I bolted from work a bit early today in order to catch an express train out of the city.  I’ve been sitting in on the live recording sessions for composer Kile Smith’s Vespers, a new work for Renaissance instruments and chamber choir, attempting to capture documentary audio footage.  With any luck, this will result in some short audio features that shed light on how the Vespers recording came together, much like the bonus materials that enhance the DVD releases of major motion pictures.

Obtaining transportation to the bucolic locale of St. Peter’s Church in the Great Valley (without resorting to driving in heavy rush-hour traffic) proved to be a challenge.  I opted to ride a commuter train for 20-some miles out of the city, and then take a cab from the train station to the church.

Yesterday, I tried to catch a trolley from my office to 30th Street, where Philadelphia’s main train station is located.  When I reached the platform, a large blue light was blinking overhead — the blue light that indicates a station is out of service.  I quickly walked to the next nearest station: blue light again.  I learned several hours later that a three-car pileup of the trolley variety had frozen the entire system at the height of evening rush hour.  I sped to the station on foot, barely easing into the commuter train that was closely coupled with my cab ride.

So today’s trip held prospects of being an easier to manage.  I hopped on the trolley and rode to the main train station, arriving with plenty of time to spare.  After stopping to grab a very quick bite to eat, I walked towards the train platform…only to discover that my train was cancelled.  In fact, all service on that train line was suspended for an indefinite period of time, a casualty of local thunderstorms and power failures.

Once again, it was PhillyCarShare to the rescue.  I located a Prius and hauled myself out to the recording site, repeatedly impeded by my colossally poor sense of direction.  But I eventually managed to arrive in one piece, and was grateful to have the chance to capture some truly wonderful, revelatory moments on tape (or, more accurately, in beefy digital files) — no thanks to our friends at SEPTA.

“We’re getting there,” the transit authority’s slogan once proclaimed.  Just not always that day, apparently.