Erin's Bus Dailies

Thank goodness for dark mornings…

…and no one seeing the near miss across the Rite Aid parking lot. 

Torn jeans, in the knees, is not a good look… in one’s 40s. 

Today is that morning where it’s dark, groggy and the braking feels far more enthusiastic than normal.  

Grateful for the vertical railings. Always sit near one… it is the only way to keep yourself from smashing the much smaller man to your left. 

Core muscles. An important thing on ‘The Metro”. 

As a newer, daily bus commuter, I have yet to experience a winter on ‘the metro’. 

My 39-degrees-walk, suddenly reminded me of this… 

Woefully ill-equipped for mornings NOT in the car…I find my brain racing through the inventory of the drawers in the house; knowing my gloves are in there somewhere.  

Mentally retracing my steps from LAST March… seems like years ago. 

Meanwhile, warmly on the bus… I can ALMOST feel my knuckles.  

Is it April yet? 

The ‘Crosswalk Countdown’…

…and the sudden, rather skilled ability to run in Birkenstocks. 

Tired and hot… (hottest September 28th ever in Seattle)… and all you want to do is hustle…but not too quickly; to get the bus home. 

Your mood teeters between excited to be done for the day and slightly grumpy… lacking desire to engage with anyone. 

Climbing onto the 312… Coach #2738; only two things, at this very moment, will make the ride home so much better… 1. Chatting with your most favorite grownup on the entire planet and 2. The very first bus driver, that you’ve encountered, that says “hello”, to every boarding passenger. 

Upon each and every passenger’s departure… she says, “Thank you, have a great evening.”  

Her commentary with the front-riding passengers is jovial and light. Her intercom announcements are clear and friendly. 

I do hope to catch her evening route again… 

My walk to the bus stop at 6:40am…takes me about 8 minutes…

The same walk, uphill-ish… feels as though it takes 37 minutes, at 6:04pm. 

The difference in ‘distance’ feels like 24 miles. 

I know there’s a fancy, philosophical equation in there somewhere… but my lack of coffee prohibits my true delving into such matters. 

Carry on. 

There must be one vent… 

On the 312, traversing on 522, heading home… the point just past NE 145th; on the descent to Lake Forest Park…

…is reminiscent of a small child poking your arm, desperately trying to get your attention. 

Slight downhill… ever so slightly tapping the brakes, for what seems like every FOUR FEET…

Dear lord… can’t we just coast?! 

Three.  More. Stops. 

“…Ere midnight’s frown and morning’s smile, ere thou and peace may meet.” ~Percy Bysshe Shelley

“Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.” ~Henry David Thoreau

A huge reason I appreciate my walks to and from the bus stops. 

Totally okay staring someone down who just about plowed into me at the crosswalk! 

And THEN…

…ponderously meandering the rest of the way. 

Enjoy the rest of YOUR night!