Waiting For A Bus
Friday night
I was waiting for a bus out in the cold, and it was cold. It was November cold. November cold is the worst even though it is
still not freezing. Your body has not
yet adjusted from the warm summer temps, and your mind has not yet adjusted to
preparing for the cold…you always seem to be under-insulated in November.
What was I
doing waiting for a bus out in the cold?
Mrs. C’s niece
had a sweet sixteen birthday party. We
drove to the party along with step-crank Casey. Casey took the bus home to NYC after the
party which was in Jersey. We drove
Casey to the bus stop.
Now we could
have waited in the nice warm car for the bus, but Mrs. C is convinced that if
the bus driver does not see anyone at the stop he will not even slow down. Mrs. C has a whole game plan to wait for
a bus.
“You have to wait at the stop, not in
the car or the driver may just pass you by.”
“OK, but can I wait in the car until
just before the bus is supposed to arrive?”
“No, he might be early and he may not
stop.”
“OK”
“Oh, and have your ticket ready.” (Like if you fumble for the ticket the driver will not let
you on and will just go to the next stop.)
“I have the ticket right in my hand.”
“Don’t drop it, it will fly away in
the wind, but have it ready.”
“I’ll hold on to it real tight.”
“Joe, you get out and wait with
Casey so she won’t get harassed by anyone while waiting, it’s getting late.”
“Who is going to protect her on the
bus.”
“Just wait with her…Jerk! And put
your cell phone to flashlight mode so the driver will be sure to see you”
So, Casey and I left the car to wait at the stop which was open to the cold wind, and we
were both dressed for November weather, which means under-dressed. Casey held on tight to her ticket, ready to
hand it to the driver without any search or delay. I had my phone on flashlight mode ready to
signal the driver.
The Denver
Broncos were less prepared for the Super Bowl then we were for that bus.
The bus was
due at 9:47. At 9:55 there was no bus. Well there were three buses, all had out-of-service signs displayed. We waited and
waited. Sometimes we got excited to see the
high lights of a bus only to have it turn into an eighteen-wheeler. At ten O’clock I suggested that Casey wait in the
car, there was no reason for us both to freeze.
At 10:10 I
was freezing and miserable and starting to get a little pissed off. I was used to delays from my train commute
years ago, but at least they informed you when there was a problem. How long do you wait for a bus before you
give up? Anyone who has ever waited for
anything knows it is not the wait, it is the not knowing that makes you
miserable.
At the peak
of my misery my mind drifted to the innocent citizens in Mosul, Iraq, who have
been terrorized for over two years by the sadistic murderous ISIS extremists. They are now waiting for ISIS to be driven
out of their city, they are waiting for some semblance of freedom, waiting for
the opportunity to resume a life that has been put on hold, and while they wait
they are in fear of having their life snuffed out by ISIS at the last minute, just
because that is what ISIS does. Waiting for
freedom, in fear for their life, and I was annoyed because the bus was late.
Finally, the
bus arrived at 10:25 and Casey was on her way back to the city. At 12:30 she called to say she was safely
home. It was hard waiting for that
call. I hate waiting.
I can’t
imagine what it is like in Mosul.
I would have done the same thing waiting for the bus with a loved one. I can't imagine living in Mosul; I am glad I do not. I don't like being inconvenienced and a bus more than a few minutes late definitely in my books was an inconvenience. I think I live too sheltered and privileged sort of life. I guess I'll call it a blessing.
ReplyDeleteGlad all worked out in the end!
betty
You're right about not knowing being the worst part of waiting. We're still waiting for rain to put out the fires and get rid of the smoke!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine either one of you being able to catch the bus without Mrs. C's instructions!
ReplyDeleteShe could write out her instructions but nobody would be able to read them!!
DeleteIt do look cold there it's still in the seventies here in south Alabama.
ReplyDeleteYou have thrown a new look on impatience. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean by November weather. It tends to be like that all winter here in Southport, England! Your wife sounds like my grandmother -- also a Jersey Girl!
ReplyDeleteThe buses here do not stop unless someone is standing right at the sign.
ReplyDeleteI travel by bus all the time and I've lost count of the number of times a very late bus has pulled up to the stop with the next 'on time' bus right behind it.
ReplyDeleteSometimes a bus has broken down and has to wait for a replacement bus to transfer the passengers, unless the next bus on that route is close enough, then everyone gets on that bus which is usually already full :(
I do feel sorry for the people who have been waiting years just to resume a normal life.
Funny yet powerful stuff Joeh. If we would only think about it like you did, the things that annoy the crap out of us are so pale and insignificant compared to what others not blessed by our privileges and freedoms face daily. A real attitude adjustment. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteyou threw us a curve by putting in a harsh perspective check...
ReplyDeleteThere's always someone who has it worse. A man i know was asked by the imam, when he visited Mosul just before ISIS overran it, to please bring Bibles. Yes, really. He was carrying them back when he had to stop because ISIS had taken the city. He is hoping that someday he can get back there with the Bibles, and that the imam will still be alive.
ReplyDeleteKinda puts things in perspective doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it always has been a hard, hard world.
ReplyDeleteProbably, we just hear more about it now the internet has brought us all together.
DeleteWow, that was a twist I did not see coming. Well played, sir.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she's home safe.
ReplyDeleteYou and your wife have the funniest conversations. You really do.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
It's been ages since I rode a bus but I always enjoy letting someone else do the driving.
ReplyDeleteI used to ride the bus a lot when I worked in Phoenix but I lived close enough to my job in the last decade of it that sometimes I'd just walk.
ReplyDeleteWaiting for the bus, getting in the wrong line at the grocery store, your restaurant running out of your favorite dish...all first world problems.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we need something to put our problems into perspective. Well done!
I seriously thought I had commented on this. I read it last night in my car sitting in the parking lot. Neither here nor there. The whole Mosul spin.. I was right there with you at the bus stop agreeing with Mrs. C every step of the way that they need to see you otherwise they'll drive on past and then Mosul.. I'll be working on my impatience..
ReplyDeleteOh yes waiting at a bus stops in a bad weather condition is torturous.
ReplyDeleteVery true about Mosul. Things are so bad over there (and in many other parts of the world) and we complain about little things.