Enter Eric... your typical average guy who love to have fun in his home away from home... Red Bank...

I got to Red Bank, and while the train was crowded, it was normal for holiday traffic. I ended up going to my job and see what was going on, and to hang around with the people I work with (the area manager and my manager). They asked why I was there and I said I don't do well with small places and large amounts of people, and I rather hang here if that's okay. They both said sure, and I ended up treating them to some coffee and iced tea (go me! )

Later that night Matt came down after work and we watched the fireworks from the building next door to the garage (Hello A/C!) While there were no lights in it (it was an unfinished part of the building), we got an amazing birds eye view of the fireworks on the Navisink river.

Now starts the chaos.

Location: Red Bank Train Station

Time: 11:00pm

*Cue 24 Countdown Music*

I waited on line with about 1,000 other people to board the next train. MEanwhile I had a drunk guy spill his beer on my shirt. Me being nice did nothing and continued to wait to board. The train station looked like something out of a neo-apocalyptic movie, there were police all over in riot gear, carrying Uzi's. There was orange barricades all over, hearding everyone like cattle, and best of all, there was fights breaking out all over the place.

Location: Train to Hell

Time 11:45pm

*Cue 24 Countdown Music*

Once I managed to get on the train, and it started moving. I grabbed a bottle of water and took my anti-anxiety pill because, like I said, I don't do well with small spaces and large crowds of people. That helped a bit, until someone decides to start another fight which almost led to a riot. That wasn't fun. I ran into the next train in order to escape it and took another xanax (I can take two at a time according to the doc). So I ended up standing in the vestibule and doing some relaxation techniques that my doctors taught me. So now we're in between stations where ANOTHER damn fight breaks out. This time they pulled the emergency brake which kills the train. So we're sitting there dead on the tracks. The conductor is racing up and down the aisles telling people to remain calm that they'll get us moving again.

Location: Train to Hell

Time: 12:00am

*Cue 24 Countdown Music*

We finally get moving again, and continue on the journey. We arrive at the next station where NJTransit police pull three people off the train and I assume arrest them. Ten minutes later I arrive at my station where every drnk 15-16 year old that was annoying the PISS outta me gets off as well. I end up calling my mom and telling her to get down to the station now. She does, ten minutes later where we go home.

Location: Home

Time: 12:20am

*Cue 24 Countdown Music*

I get home and I'm shaking. I end up getting a shower and calming down, and with the help of my sleeping medicine, I finally fall asleep... the journey to hell was over.

Authors Note: While this journey literally took close to an hour, it normally takes 20-25 minutes seeing as I take the same journey five times a week. Holidays suck in Joisy!