Me: Mornin’
Driver: Penn Station, right?
Me: Yup. [puts head back, dials the phone]
Amtrak Automated Phone System: Hi, I’m Julie, your Amtrak …
[driver sneezes]
Julie: I’m sorry, I didn’t…
Me: Bless you!
Julie: I’m sorry, I didn’t get that.
Me: Reservations
Julie: Great. If you’re calling about a reservation you …
[hit my knee on an air conditioner vent]
Me: Ouch!
Julie: I’m sorry, I didn’t get that. If you are ….
Me: I have one.
Julie: Great. Do you have your reservation number?
[i’m reading an email while riding and talking]
Me: Diabetes
Julie: Sorry, Please say …
[driver mumbles about a car that cuts him off]
Julie: Sorry, please say ….
Me: [to driver] Hi sorry, I’m using this Julie robot thing. [finger to my lips]
Driver: Oh, sorry man
Julie: I didn’t get that. Let’s try this a different way
Me: [forgetting she’s a robot] Wait!
Julie: Sorry you are having trouble ….
Driver: Here we go [stopping at the penn station curb]
Julie: [silence]
Me: Thank you [to driver. getting out. phone call has disconnected]
Driver: Sorry about your call.
Me: No problem. I really don’t think Julie was trying very hard.