In my life,
a lowered income, the threat of $5.00/gallon gasoline, a long commute, an
aching tendon in my clutch-pumping foot, a changed bus schedule, a roommate
moving out, and my company supplying an Orca pass, all conspired to make me a
bus rider again, for the first time since high school.
That’s a
lot of conspiracy going on, isn’t it? I’ve been checking the bus routes and
when I first started working here, it was a 4 hour trip. The next time I
checked it had come down to 2 ½ hours. Then when I checked yesterday, it was
only 1 hour, 5 minutes (if I can walk fast enough after work to get to the bus stop on
time!).
So off I
went this morning, leaving home at 6:26 to make it 1 mile down the road before
6:43, driving to the Park and Ride near my house, finding a parking spot,
getting to my “Bay”, and lo and behold! the bus number I wanted was just
pulling up! Of course this was the bus before the one I was trying to catch,
because I had left so early...
I waved my
Orca pass, it beeped (yes! I’d sorta been holding my breath, a little, maybe),
and I found my seat at the very front of the bus, near the driver, because I
can see my stop better from there. (…?) I pulled out my glasses and my Kindle,
and settled down to read a book - on my way to work!
Then I
pulled my glasses off, put my Kindle away, and checked to be sure we hadn’t
arrived in Bellevue while I wasn’t looking, even though we had only left the S.
Everett P&R 5 minutes ago. >>sigh<<
After two
more of these compulsive incidents, I finally just left the Kindle in my purse and watched
traffic. We arrived at the Bellevue Transit Center right on time, which was 21
minutes before my next bus. Wouldn’t you know that this non-coffee girl got set
down smack-dab between two Starbucks? They don’t even have good hot chocolate
there! (Sorry, Amy, but they don’t!) This is probably a good thing.
So I once
again pulled out the Kindle, only to immediately put it away. Busses come
early, you know. And if I’m reading, I can’t see my bus show up. The bus
finally arrived, and then sat there for 4 minutes, because it was ahead of
schedule. At least it was warm inside. We pulled away from the stop,
and then I got really nervous. Some of the stops were quite a way between. How
would I know when to pull the little cord to ding the bell to alert the driver
that I wanted to get off?
I finally
moved to the front (two seats up) and told the driver which stop I needed. She
let me know it was the next stop, so I sat right there to make sure she stopped
for me. I didn’t want her to forget, or get distracted and miss the stop or
anything. Good thing that guy pulled the cord that dinged the bell, just in
case!
When I got
off the bus I had to cross the street, and the light took forever. The bus dropped
me off at 7:51, so I only had 9 minutes to get to work - a block away. I made it
to work in time to fill my water cup, get a cup of tea, and log in just before
8:00.
Whew! I
can’t wait to see what the evening’s adventures bring! Of course, I’m getting
off work 15 minutes early so I can be sure to be at the stop on time…
I know what
you’re thinking, but this time it makes sense! After work my stop is ½ mile
away, and I have to get there before 5:16, getting off work at 5:00. I’m
overweight and out of shape, so I’m not sure how fast I’ll be able to walk it.
It should take about 10 minutes. Aaaahhhhh! I don’t have enough time! I’ll
never make it! Oh wait. Today I have an extra 15 minutes. I’ll let you know how
that goes. J
(This
really is what goes on in my head. And it’s probably the same kind of stuff
that goes on in your head too; you’re just not crazy enough to admit it.)
Almost forgot the points game: 100 points to anyone who can tell me which bus I take from work to the Bellevue Transit Center.
Almost forgot the points game: 100 points to anyone who can tell me which bus I take from work to the Bellevue Transit Center.
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