Finally the day had come. Nina had waited for this day for a long time. Since the first announcement in 2008.
No, since even before that. Every time she had searched for parking downtown all those previous years. Every time she had driven past the Lougheed Town Centre station, looking longingly at the trains zooming in and out, at the lucky passengers who could use it so conveniently. If only she could just walk up from home, board the train, whizz downtown. Now she could. Finally.
For three years, she had watched with excitement, then patience, as the construction crews disrupted traffic along Pinetree, her regular route to groceries. At least they weren’t routing the train down Guildford Way as earlier planned. That would’ve been too close to home. Pinetree was just the right distance away, an eight-minute walk. The massive diggers and gigantic cranes made for interesting conversations with her little grandsons, eye wide with wonder as their CAT toys came alive in their very own neighbourhood.
Occasionally, she searched online for information on the progress of the project. The first deadline was June 2015, postponed to April 2016, then to ‘early’ 2017. Aaaahhh! Would she ever get to use the train from home? The postponements were taking it further and further into the uncertain future. At this rate, she might even be six feet under, before the Skytrain came to her backyard.
And then the date was advanced! The opening date was back in 2016. Early in December. She would be there on the very first day. With her husband Joe, Nina would take one of the first rides out.
But it was not to be. Late in November, Joe’s foot developed an ulcer that needed much healing. For weeks, he could barely hobble from one room to another. The Skytrain’s Evergreen Extension inaugural had to be tucked away in the far corner of Nina’s right brain.
December 2nd arrived. Nina pictured the local community cheering as the very first train set out from Pinetree and Guildford. So close to home! She wanted to be there, in spite of the chilly rain. But hospital appointments took priority. Joe’s foot was still triple its normal size. It took four long months for it to return to regular use.
So, today was the day. Compass cards safely in their pockets, husband and wife set out. A short walk and they were at Lafarge Lake station, cement frog staring intently at passers-by. The electronic sign began the countdown. Three minutes, two minutes, one minute. And there it was!
Joe headed for the very first car, for the single front chair that faced out to the tracks. Some boys never grow up! Nina was left to find her own seat. A window would be nice. The doors drew shut.
It felt deliciously strange to ride high above familiar places, to get a different perspective of parking lots, sidewalks, traffic. The used car lot that she took for granted when driving by, was really huge! Soon they were traveling parallel to Clarke, a street she had driven up and down every working day, which still was her regular route to downtown Vancouver. She felt peculiarly removed from the street. As though she was going along it in a different body.
“Daddy look! The mountains!” A little girl’s voice faced out the window.
“Yes, baby, aren’t the mountains beautiful? Isn’t it fun to be on the train? Soon the train will go through a tunnel.”
“I don’t want to go in a tunnel, Daddy. It’s too dark.” From behind her, Nina could sense the child’s eyes grow wide with fear.
“The train has many lights inside, baby. We’ll be okay.”
And there they were, in the tunnel. The same tunnel that had been the major glitch in bringing the Skytrain to Lafarge Lake. Nina recalled glancing towards the humungous drill as it emerged through the mountainside, and later at the gaping hole that would eventually be today’s tunnel. All of Port Moody had rejoiced, because now the Evergreen Line was an actual reality.
“The next station is – Lougheed Town Centre. Change here for the Millenium Line to Waterfront.”
Across the platform, the other train was already waiting. It couldn’t be more convenient. Nina and Joe hurried into one of the cars. This time they sat together. The train set off, a bit clattery.
Sapperton. Columbia. 22nd Street.
“The next station is – Edmonds.” A wave of nostalgia swept over Nina. This was the station from where she had headed to her very first job in Canada, all those years ago. The bus loop was the same. A 106 was just pulling out – the bus that had brought them to the Skytrain from their first home in Burnaby.
Joe took Nina’s hand in his. “You know what the train announcements remind me of? Our first year.” Nina nodded, amazed that he had the very same thought as her. They had been married too long!
Their first year in Canada had not been pretty. Both Joe and Nina had taken on minimum wage jobs in Vancouver. After the flexible schedule of teaching at a university back in the home country, Nina had to be exactly on time to her spot as a telephone interviewer. Several times, she had had to run, panting, from the bus stop, almost tripping over the uneven sidewalk. The supervisors were stern and unforgiving. They listened in to your calls, and were quick to admonish any strange accents, any hint of unnecessary conversation with the few phone numbers who took the time to respond to the intrusive interviewers. You had to read the questionnaire off the computer screen exactly as is and quickly key in responses. That’s if you were lucky enough to get a response. At least she didn’t have to push for a sale in hopes of a measly commission.
The Skytrain had made the job accessible from their first home in Burnaby – the Skytrain and two bus rides. The first few weeks had been bearable; hopefully something better would come up soon. But, the months went by, and she continued to ride the Skytrain to Granville, and take a bus to Arbutus. Was this what she had immigrated for? Should she go back to the home country? Even today, Nina felt a twinge in her chest as she pictured herself returning home on the train all those years ago, despair washing over her, unshed tears clouding the view. Thankfully no one had noticed, no one had cared. Today, she was thankful she could enjoy the ride and look forward to its exciting possibilities.
Metrotown. Patterson. Joyce. Backyards exposed to train travelers, most of whom were oblivious to the glimpses into personal lives way down below, patio furniture awry, colourful swing sets in wait, sheds needing a coat of paint, the occasional abandoned plastic sheet. Cherry blossoms popped up cheerfully over brown rooftops. Clouds obscured the majesty of the Coast Mountains.
Commercial-Broadway. The platforms were getting busier. For so many, the Skytrain was an enabler. To work, to shopping, to an active life.
Stadium-Chinatown. Look, Rogers Arena was right across from the station! Imagine being able to come to shows and not pay big bucks for parking! Lionel Ritchie suddenly seemed a distinct possibility. On the other side was Abbott Street, and International Village Cinemas. The film festival would be a cinch. Wow.
Granville. They’ve prettied up the platform with colourful murals. Several passengers hurried to the extra-long escalator beyond. To shopping, to a romantic rendezvous perhaps? More likely to shift work, as she had done long ago. For Nina today, the Skytrain opened up the Lower Mainland and all it had to offer.
Burrard. Waterfront. Here we are.
2017