Thin, flimsy plastic sheets propped up on wobbly rods shudder in the wind as the sleet shoots sideways and you shiver and shake in the dark and lonely bus shelter.
Wrapped in thin gloves and a thick, wet scarf, you stand patiently as your book-filled backpack silently jabs your spine and strains your shoulders. Fingers freezing, knees shaking, you wince and hug yourself as you keep looking way up the street, wishing, hoping, praying that you’ll please please see the bus heading right for you.
Folks, we’ve all been there and it’s not a pretty scene.
But hey, that’s what makes it so great when you hit one of those magic moments where you arrive at the bus stop just as the bus peels out from around the corner.
Pupils dilate, eyebrows rise, and a clown-faced smile curls onto your face as you realize you just hit the Public Transportation Jackpot.
Yes, in those perfect scenes you’re suddenly a Bus Fleet Fatcat, swimming in tickets and tokens, commanding your private army of Sugar Rollers around town to pick you up and drop you off as you see fit. Baby, if you’re feeling this buzz, then there’s no reason you can’t get right into it, too — whistling with both pinkies just before it stops or clapping your hands beside your ear twice as if you’re hailing it for real.
And how perfect is it when this dream scene ends with the bus stopping right in front of you, the door swinging open, and the bright, round-faced driver flashing you a big toothy smile and a tip of the cap as you walk in the door.
AWESOME!
Clearly, I must use public transport more often, for the sole purpose of being able to go, “Aaaah. Yes. Yes indeed,” to all of these transporty-type bits of awesomeness…
Its been a while since I rode the city bus. Lots of interesting people and interesting memorable times on those buses
Cool word: transporty!
Where I live now it’s fairly rural and so there’s not much fun on this scene but when I lived in and around Vancouver I loved to utilize every sector: city bus, sky train, oh how I love the sea bus!!! So much fun! And although most folks there think I’m crazy for this, when I go back to visit, I plead for us to commute this way and I sing, “Shine on you crazy diamond:)”
BIG SMILE!
I remember those moments like it was yesterday from my days in the big city.
Sitting in the back of an empty bus, the sun is burning hot but inside, it’s quiet and cool, well, because of the air-condition. Awesome!
Once, I was running late to catch the bus to take me to work. I was just in a wreck and my car was out of commision.. anyway… I was running through town, very small town at that, but I had a long way to go. I started on the other side of the river and it was about a 2 mile walk. I was in sight of the bus station and teh bus was sitting there like it suually does, just waiting for the time to pass. AI thought I was going to make it. Then, it pulled out and I was 2 blocks away! I started waving my arms and it stopped for me and I got yelled at fornot being at the stop on time by the bus driver
Wow… sorry for the typos, but the comment box is messing up on me and I can’t see everything I type
Good story!
Oh, man! I take public transport everyday and you just put my exact feelings into words! Thanks very much!