conuly

"Welcome aboard the Staten Island Ferry. Please take a moment to pay attention to the following safety announcements."

or, when leaving...

"All passengers must depart the ferry at this time. Passengers wishing to make a return trip to Manhattan must exit into the terminal to await the next ferry."

This announcements get into your brain, they really do. I've heard four year olds reciting them before getting on the boat. I've heard teenagers going through the spiel when leaving the boat. I've heard people of all ages (including myself) mindlessly humming or reciting along as the announcement went through.

If I were to write a children's book about riding the ferry, it'd have to include the whole routine, because it's clearly an essential part of life if you take the boat too often.

"Please stay off stairs, ramps, and landings during docking. Failure to do so could result in serious injury."

I tell you, the announcements even show up in dreams.

Anything like that happen to anybody else lately?