Last week I started my new job. In a set of circumstances only God could orchestrate, I am now gainfully employed. I got to choose my work hours so that I can be home when the kids get back from school. I also planned my hours so I can still attend my women’s bible study. I work for a very understanding and gentle supervisor. I occasionally get free lunch when lectures and meetings are held at the office. My cubicle is situated next to a window. The most amusing part of it all–at least to me–is that I’m returning to urban planning 15 years after grad school. After starting my career as stay-at-home mom, I pretty much gave up the idea of being involved in the field of urban planning. But here I am getting back to it.
There is one part of my new routine that has been enlightening and enriching while causing stress at times: riding the bus. The price of parking near the office is ridiculous and work does not provide me a spot in the tiny lot. So I’m letting go of my LA car-loving roots and taking public transportation. This is only the second week that I’ve been commuting to work but I have learned a lot. I’ve missed my bus and taken the wrong bus (fortunately not on the same day). I’m learning that riding public transportation requires that I trust an unknown factor (the bus driver) to get me to my destination. Once I did that, the ride became rather enjoyable–sort of like “me time” while being surrounded by strangers.
I also observe notable people on the bus: a grandfather picking up his granddaughters from school, the woman who is married to the bus driver, the man who would periodically sing at stops “if you leave that’s fine by me,” a man who spit on the floor of the bus, another man who was rather loudly trying to strike up a conversation with a woman who turned out to be married with a baby (the woman then moved seats). Of course there are the usual commuters on their way to work and/or school but that’s not fun to write about. It’s not nearly as dramatic as the events of “Strangers on a Train” but it’s certainly enough excitement for me.
15/05/2013 at 3:40 pm Permalink
completely unrelated to your daily commute, but i’ve got a friend heading to Boston. do you have any restaurant recommendations perchance?
i suppose i should make a comment about public transport, just to make this a valid comment. i’ve found that taking public transport is a great democratizer. once you are on the bus, you may be rich or poor, clean or dirty, but for that ride all of you are headed in the same direction. and like it or not, i very well may fall asleep on your shoulder and drool.
15/05/2013 at 9:05 pm Permalink
Yes, Bert, I agree. Riding a bus strips a person of much of their status. No special considerations for anyone who misses their bus!
As for your question, I’ll email you. 🙂