Bus connections

[bironic]

People on our cross-town commuter bus generally keep to themselves, except the occasional passenger who comes on with a friend. Quiet, tired, just trying to get to or from work or medical appointments.

This week, though, I was struck by two small moments of people connecting.

There’s a young man who sleeps hunched in the front seat with his head on his backpack. He somehow wakes up at or just before his stop. A couple of days ago, he didn’t stir. A man who tends to sit in the perpendicular seat—I call him Mr. Bold Color Choices because of his socks and pocket squares—leaned forward, shook the kid’s arm, and said, “It’s your stop.” Kid said thanks and skedaddled.

Yesterday, we received yet another new and/or substitute driver who had not been given route directions from the dispatcher. A guy in front was using a phone app to guide him. The guy was only going a few stops, though, so when he was ready to get off, he turned around and asked if anyone could take over. A woman stepped up and helped the driver for another several stops. Then her stop came, and she asked if anyone was going to the end of the line. A man in the back I’d never seen before raised his hand and took the reins. It took an hour, but we made it from my neighborhood to my destination and presumably the two final stops. The amiable tag-teaming tempered an otherwise annoying situation.

Comments

[sasha_feather]

That's so nice.

[bironic]

Isn't it? And it's so easy to be grumpy in city traffic.

[rionaleonhart]

This made me smile! I'm glad you shared these stories.

[bironic]

I'm glad they made you happy too!

[ephemera]

Those are good moments - thank you for sharing them :)

[bironic]

You're welcome. I think we could all use more little stories of kindness these days.

[selki]

Yes, thank you!

[scribe]

Oh this is very lovely, made me smile. :-)

[bironic]

The MBTA needs more of this and less of a lot of other things, yeah?

[minoanmiss]

YEAH.

[marginaliana]

I love that sense of public teamwork. My boss (Umbridge) tells endless stories about how her co-commuters wake her up at her stop. And I've read lots of things about commuters who always take the same morning train forming party groups with each other, which is sweet.

[bironic]

That is nice. Although, it does take a certain amount of ego to put the onus on fellow passengers to make sure you get to work, no? #umbridge

[marginaliana]

Oh, yes. Not to mention the blatant hypocrisy of how she falls asleep all the time and yet is horrified when someone else falls asleep on her shoulder. #OhUmbridge

[bironic]

🙄

[bironic]

Hm, that was supposed to be an *eyes to ceiling* emoji.

[monanotlisa]

That's the nicest thing I've heard all day (granted, in my line of work, that is a low bar, but...nice).

[bironic]

:)

[j00j]

These were really nice to hear. I see this now and then on SEPTA and it reminds me that many people will help each other given the opportunity.

[bironic]

Yes. I definitely prefer this over people who block the aisle and those who don't clear space for strollers.

[cuddyclothes]

What a lovely thing to read!!! Thank you!

[bironic]

Happy to spread the good vibes.

[calissa]

These are so lovely! Thank you for sharing them. It made the day a little brighter.

[bironic]

I'm so glad. Your lovely nail pictures added some enjoyment to the day over here, too.

[calissa]

Oh, thank you! I'm glad you liked them.

[amnisias]

Weiredly, those random, small-scale glimpses of human conection are often more touching, noticable and memorable than the well organised big events that are supposed to get us emoting. Or maybe that's just me? ;)

[ldthomps]

Yeah, it's awesome how, Especially in the January grumpies (oof!) our notoriously gruff townspeople can show kindness <3 <3 <3.