Public Transportation

I am writing this with an over exhausted brain. It was my first day at work today - which meant taking the bus to and from work during peak commuting hours. A public adventure.

I got ready for my big day with plenty of time, even stopping to down the last of my yerba mate tea before almost slamming Puss in the door. I got into the elevator and watched as it stopped on every single floor from 18 down to 1 picking up professionals ready to make the same trek that I was. Nobody spoke, and it smelled like mouthwash (better than the alternative, I suppose). I haven't worn heels in weeks as I have been in "comfort-unemployment-mode" and as I took my first step out of the front door of my building I saw the 151 bus pulling up to the stop located about 100 feet away.

First of all, these buses wait for no one. You are either on it, trapped in the door, or waiting 15 minutes until the next one stops. I had allocated enough time to wait, but, it was cold. I darted through puddles and prayed that I would not biff it on the slick fall leaves that covered the ground in my 3 inch heels that were making their comeback after the three weeks they were locked away. I barely made it.

Now on the bus, there are no empty seats. Chivalry is dead my friends, or perhaps my face does not show enough life experiences to merit a voluntary vacancy. I stood, grasping the chrome bar above and balancing in my heels as the bus lurched forward and then would suddenly stop every 15 seconds. I was bus surfing. Before long, I noticed that my tense arm had fallen asleep and that my thigh muscles were terribly sore from the balancing act. At least if my job doesn't work out, I'll be toned enough to join the circus.

Finally, after being told to "MOVE BACK!" by everyone getting on the bus, I was shoved to the very back where there was a secret seat.

I reached into my purse for my buzzing phone and read the text that Jen had just sent: Wow. Just waited for the L and it was too packed to get on. Awesome. This whole public transportation sucks. I hate waiting.


Fortunately, my ride is only 10 minutes on one bus which picks me up in front of my building and drops me off in front of my office. Jen has to walk 6 blocks to the red line, get on (if it's not full, it seems), transfer to the brown line, get off and walk 4 blocks to her office. Keep in mind, 8 blocks in Chicago is 1 mile. It takes her 45 minutes to go 3 miles - one of which, she walks.

On my way home at 4 pm, my brain was mush. I had sat for 7 hours and listened to 5 different people talk as fast as they could about sales, techniques, hr matters, etc... all the while trying to be on my best behavior and look very interested in everything our new supervisors were saying. I walked the half a block to my bus stop and got on. Empty row! Score! My joy was short lived as a girl with headphones plunked down next to me. She was listening to Jay Z. How do I know? Because it was so loud I could hear every word this rapper rapped. Not exactly the kind of music you want to hear after a long day and your head is throbbing and all you can do is imagine the bottle of cab waiting for you at home. Next stop - coughing kid takes a seat. I tried to hold my breath as long as possible so that his germs would not creep into my non-insured system, but no luck... I had to breathe. He coughed and coughed and snotted and sneezed. I am going to start wearing one of those masks.

Finally, my stop. I disembarked the public germ infested vessel and walked the 50 feet to my building.

Can't wait for tomorrow.