The bus in LA is a tremendously supportive yet emotionally unavailable mother. Nurturing as she is - nestled within her humming warmth on a wet commute to work - she will just as soon leave you behind one minute late to the stop and running for your life. She'll tell you that there's no room for tardiness in the pursuit of success.Writing February 5th 2010
Her moments of forgiveness, however, such as when she idles at your waving hand, opening her doors to you, breathless - are salvation.
Within her womb we sit, ignoring each other yet bound as family - when the bus hits a bad bump, we all look up and hold on tight.
Here you can learn some of the greatest lessons in life. Unlike driving a car or even riding a bike, you are forced to reckon with humanity. And despite your ear buds and your text messages, you are still shoulder to shoulder...thigh to thigh...with your neighbor, and the contact is undeniably intimate.
And when someone offers his seat to you for no good reason other than he wants to, you are reminded that there is still some room for kindness in this world - even when the bus leaves you behind.
Thanks Mom.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Monday: Writing
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2 comments:
Interesting piece, "Mom the Bus." Back in Old Havana, your Grandma loved riding the "guagua" all over town. Back then not many people drove cars to get around - it was all "guaguas" o "carros de alquiler" (taxi cabs). I just wish bus engines were cleaner. I once got stuck riding my bike behind a big bus and nearly choked on the exhausts.
The new buses run a lot cleaner, and if you can catch up with them, are great to draft.
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