Tracks, Trains, and Talks: Building Connections at PIP

Fun times at today’s PIP (Peers in Person) event at the Transit Museum Gift Shop in Grand Central Station! On this fine Sunday, January 26, 2025, the crew included Evelyn, Fiona, June, Eileen, Fred, and his lovely wife Rochelle. The star of the shop was a massive model train set, taking up prime real estate in the store’s center. Picture this: two impressively long trains, one on the high tracks and one on the low, making authentic “choo-choo” sounds as they cruised through a miniature version of NYC. There were skyscrapers, parked cars, pedestrians, cozy homes, and, for reasons known only to the model makers, a majestic mountain where the trains vanished and reappeared as if by magic.

And the details! A colorful trolley zipped around, a tiny figure pumped a seesaw-like contraption to move (talk about a workout), and animated miniature men appeared hard at work repairing a section of track. We marveled, along with the kids, who might have been enjoying the scene almost as much as we were. Rochelle, meanwhile, was on a mission to find gifts for her grandkids.

After soaking up the charm of the gift shop, we went hunting for a cozy spot to sit and schmooze. Not far off, we found a little dinette where Fiona and Evelyn indulged in lobster rolls and warm bisque, Eileen sipped on a cocktail, and June graciously accepted two roasted almonds from me, declaring, “Yum!” Fred and Rochelle sat for a while before heading off for more Grand Central adventures.

As for the rest of us, our conversation took a turn into mental health advocacy territory, tackling heavy topics like how many young men struggle in relationships due to poor social skills, past incarceration, or mental health challenges. We noted how serious medications can numb emotions—the very things needed for human connection. (Who decided to dive into the deep end at a PIP event?) Evelyn floated the idea of workshops for relationship-building strategies. And then it hit us: weren’t we already doing some relationship-building ourselves? Maybe the key to life and mental health is as simple as a PIP gathering, a lobster roll, and marveling at tiny trains.

Please join us for the next one or even help plan one by contacting me via cell (929) 884-3564 or [email protected].