Peacefully in dreamland, where I remember none of my dreams, I’m violently interrupted by my 6:00 AM alarm. I snooze it, but seven minutes later, my 6:05 alarm goes off, followed by 6:20, 6:27, and finally, 6:45 AM. On a good day like today, I’m up and out of bed by the 6:45 alarm.

I start getting ready. Assembling my lunch is my favorite part of my morning routine! A simple salad with red onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese on a spring mix base, dressed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and topped with the protein du jour—leftover grilled chicken.

After finishing up, I rush out the door by 7:15 AM. This time, I arrive around 7:30 AM and am greeted with a perfect pull-in parking spot (it may be three minutes away from the train pickup but I won’t need to back out on my way home!).

As I wait for the train, which usually takes about five minutes, I queue up my music. I’ve created a playlist summarizing what I’ve been listening to on my way to the office.

Taking a deeper look (thanks to Last.fm) at my time at Fathom (from May 13th to August 30th), I can see my top five artists, albums, and tracks.

Albums:

• Makes sense. None of this information surprised me—I code well to music I love singing along to!

Artists:

• Reflects pretty well with the album data.

Tracks:

• I fell victim to the quintessential, ‘Brat’ summer, I can’t even be mad about it.

Though staring out the window like I’m in a music video is a crucial part of my commute, I sometimes like to enrich my brain.

• Solitaire
  • I’m obsessed with solving each game as fast as possible. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing all the cards assemble into their respective piles when you’ve nailed an automatic solve.
• Good Pizza, Great Pizza
  • I’ve been playing this game all summer. You basically own a pizza restaurant and make pizzas for customers while there are events, upgrades, and fun toppings.
    
• Duolingo
  • In true Fathom spirit, I spent most of my Duolingo time this summer learning Greek! The course has been super fun, though not sure how practical it will be for conversations because the main phrase I’ve mastered is, Το ροζ αβοκάντο. which translates to “The pink avocado”. Essential phrases only.
    
    
• Reading!
  • This one is pretty obvious: music and reading are a perfect combination. I spent this commute reading The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion.

I arrive at South Station around 8:30 AM, get on the next red line train, and we’re off to the office!

Fast forward to 5:00 PM—it’s time for the journey home. I walk over to the Charles/MGH stop, and sometimes it takes a couple of red line trains before I can get on. But once I’m in, the commute playlist is back in my ears! By 5:35 PM, I’m at South Station, waiting for the train that usually rolls in around 5:40 PM.

Like clockwork, as soon as I board the train, my cell service disappears until Readville—except for a few pockets around Back Bay. It’s smooth sailing as I close my eyes and enjoy the music, until I’m reminded of reality by the loss of service at Walpole. But that means… my stop is next!

At Norfolk! Time to get off, thank the conductor, walk over to my car and drive home.

For the days I’m in the office, I feel the most productive, and as long as the commute can be, the team at Fathom makes these long days totally worth it.

It’s pretty bittersweet to think that I won’t have to do this commute anymore. When else am I going to experience nearly missing my train home because of red line delays?