Transit Bus Trauma...a day in the life of a car-less woman...

I had posted this on Facebook a while ago, but this NEEDS to be part of my Bus Blog series.

Bus Adventure #47


Many of you may or may not know of my car-less story. Either way, I have no car right now and share with my dad. I usually only get the car on weekends, so during the week, I stay with a friend, closer to my work and bus in, since coming from my home is...err...expensive. Wahoo for Greyhound... Anyways, I usually humor a select few with some of my more colorful stories if traveling transit, but today I will share with all...

So I didn't get the car since dad needed to work on the brakes. Today, (and of course, the morning started off badly anyways), if it wasn't for the S L O W woman working in the 7-11 where I needed to buy the transit pass, I would have made the right bus and avoided the following.....Since I love Stuart MacLean and the Vinyl Cafe, here is my story tribute to something I think he would appreciate.

I walked up to the shopping center near my friends, did some banking, got a lovely breakfast sandwich at McDonald's and had found my spot on the bus bench across the road. There were some unidentifiable wet spots on the bench to one side, so I sat myself down on the other side with my stuff beside me and patiently waited for the bus. I had no sooner unwrapped my lovely breakfast sandwich, when a man, who had dropped his stuff down near me, walked over and wanted to sit down. He looked at the wet spots and thought better of it, then proceeded to walk away appearing mildly disheartened. Seeing as he was older than me by quite a bit and appeared to be a hard working man, I moved my stuff so he could sit down....nothing good happens after this nice gesture.....

The man informs me “I love EVERYBODY today!!"....and he sure did. I wonder which bottle led him to such a decision. As I was sitting there, now not enjoying my breakfast sandwich I had waited all week to purchase when I got my pay cheque, I heard the man's story. Between slurred words, I gathered that this man (60) had recently broken up with his girlfriend (55) who had left him for a younger man (25) and was now homeless and looking for a nice girl to be with...I am not that nice girl. I smiled and basically told him good luck with that! He informed me that he just wants people to be honest with him. He has a good paying job in nearby, but he needs to find a woman and a place to live. I inform him nicely, that the 2 don't always go together...he told me they sometimes do...followed by a pause and the question... "do you live here?". I was never so happy as to say "No! I live 2 cities away!". "TWO cities??" he replied, but I knew his inebriated brain couldn't formulate the question as to why I would be here, taking a bus when I live half hour away. In either case, it backed him off for a whole 30 seconds. During this conversation, I apparently am humorous, which caused him to frequently lean, one arm hug, or bury his face in that arm of my jacket. I was also informed that he didn't know why, but he really wanted to hug me...great. I said "Ya, I get that a lot...". Of all the days for the bus to be slightly behind schedule....for crying out loud, didn't they know I needed to choose a different set of surroundings? sheesh.

Anyways, I have now consumed my cold breakfast sandwich, which is sitting like a lump in my stomach...kind of like the man next to me. I am sure by this point, that my jacket smells like said lump...Eu de Jack Daniels...He says to me "I hope you don't mind me hugging you!". Of course I told him "Just as long as my boyfriend doesn't see!". "Oh, you have one of those?"...he never really waited for my answer. No! (I felt like yelling), I don't! But I can sure manufacture one in a heart beat when I'm being 'leaned' on!

The bus, now appearing out of the corner of my eye, was the most beautiful sight I have seen since the arrival of the breakfast sandwich I didn't get to enjoy. He managed to get on the bus before I did, allowing me to choose my own seat...away from him. I did overhear him 'leaning' on his next victim...

So, to all of you who don't enjoy your vehicles, may I just remind you, that as long as you can get from point A to point B, enjoy it for all of us who wait for a bus patiently...while being 'leaned' on!