i took the 3 train express from times square today uptown. an usually choice for me. i found a set and opened up the new Times with barack on the cover. the man next to me turned and said "you know who just endorsed obama?" i smile. "nope, who" he responds..."mccain". i break out. awesome. i can't stop complimenting the joke. i asked him how many times he told that joke this week. he can't count, to many. its solid, to many times doesn't exist for that joke. he loves that i love him. he tells more political jokes, i keep laughing. he is funny. and this is beautiful. as 96th street approaches he starts to pack-up. he looks me in the eye "thanks for laughing. its been a real pleasure" he emphases the word real. and it was. real i mean. i don't really like when people say "keep it real" but if i were to say that. i would have times like this subway ride be the example in my mind about what keeping it real means. he stood up and i said "you kidding, thank you! and oh, i'm going to re-tell that joke a bunch" he steps out. ding-dong. next stop on this train 110th street central park north.