Andrew Chang
During my residency training, I often had to take the early morning 5 a.m. Caltrain from San Mateo to Palo Alto to make it to morning rounds in the ICU by 6 a.m.
There was a very friendly conductor (who looked not unlike Santa Claus with his white beard and spectacles) who would come down the aisles to check tickets.
Every time he saw me sleepily drowsing in my hospital scrubs, he would check my Go Pass and hand me a piece of candy to wake me up.
I came to look forward to this part of my morning commute. It was a long, hard month caring for some of the sickest patients in the hospital, and Mr. Mystery Candy Conductor was often the highlight of my day.
Andrew Chang
Caltrain Commuter
Department of Medicine