Bus observations:
1) It is apparently ok to bring dogs on the bus. Remember the book Henry Huggins? Remember how Henry tried to bring Ribsy on the bus and the driver said he had to be in a box? So Henry stuffed his dog into a cardboard box and various hijinx ensue. I guess I thought that the book was accurate and you can’t bring dogs on the bus unless they’re in a carrier. Nope, I’ve seen everything from Chihuahuas nestled in handbags to two beagles on the bus.
2) I had a Bus Buddy at one point…you know, someone you wordlessly sit next to. This was consistent every morning on the #8, I would sit in the same spot, and several stops later this nice young man with a leather briefcase would sit next to me. It was like a silent pact. Lately, the bus has been so crowded I can’t stake out my original seat, much less get one by myself. I admit: The first time my Bus Buddy was forced to sit somewhere else I felt betrayed.
3) Bus stops are a great place to write letters.
4) While waiting for the #5, a Mexican guy ask me (in Spanish) if I was “going to work.” (I had no idea what he said until after I boarded my bus and all my Spanish came back). At the time, I laughed and said, “You know, my Spanish just isn’t that good” and than resumed reading my book. He paused for a minute before asking me if I spoke Spanish in Spanish. I said, “Poquito.” He laughed and than he got up and started walking down the street. It wasn’t until after I got on the bus did I remember that “trobajo” means “to work.” I don’t really know what conversation we would have had, but I felt guilty and than relieved about the language barrier.
5) A crazy lady yelled at me about how I was “stealing her identity for airport security purposes.”
6) I watched this little kid talk openly about his new baby brother, his school, and his sleeping patterns with complete strangers on the bus. His parents completely ignored him.
7) Alternative schools apparently use metro bus frequently to transport loud packs of students. At least once a week I am joined by at least 12 kids accompanied by several teachers. Regardless of how full the bus is, the classmates always find a place to sit. It’s interesting to observe large amounts of children on metro transit, simply because they are usually very excited about the bus. The latest was a group of 3 year olds all jammed into the backseats of the #10. Several individuals on the bus were so thrilled they actually joined in while the kids sang a rendition of “Row Row Row Your Boat.” Needless to say, the additional singing sort of crashed the 3 year old party, and awkward silence followed.
8) I don’t remember this, but it is proper bus etiquette to thank the bus driver while departing the bus. Sometimes I do this, other times I can’t muster it.
9) A possible mildly retarded man walked up to the bus driver and started praising him. “You do a really good job, I know you don’t hear it enough…” The bus driver politely thanked him. The man continued, “I was on the bus that flew off the Aurora Bridge several years ago…” The bus driver was silent, before saying, “Well that was a very tragic incident.” Man said, “Yeah I wasn’t even injured…I felt terrible for Michael…well, that’s my stop. You’re doing just great. Bye now.” Call me a cynical bastard but I think he might have been lying…maybe.
10) I’ve decided to rule out the #3 when I can…it’s just not worth it. What with passing the jail, the various soup kitchens, AND Harborview Medical Center (read: Released mental patients), it’s just too much to handle. Last time I rode it, five guys were eating hotdogs and beans off of paper plates. The bus driver tried to prevent them from coming on, but they persisted. Finally the driver agreed but only they promised not to leave their paper plates on the bus floor.