Bus Rides

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe things really do happen for a reason. I couldn't tell you why because I realize it defies all reason. But again this week, I missed my bus and then another freaking crazy thing happened.

First off, I will confess the lame reason as to why I missed my bus. I take one bus to Orem and then transfer over to another. I had been using my old roommate Trang Doan's bus pass until I saw her in August (at my wedding) where she told me she needed the pass because she was returning to Utah. Luckily, the bus drivers from Provo to Orem didn't make me buy the passes as they trusted that I would buy one in Orem.

Anywho, I am getting off the 832 in Orem when I see my driver in the 850. I run to him and with a pathetically desperate look, tell him to wait one minute while I buy my bus pass. So I go and buy it and have to deal with this 60-year-old big shot who, after viewing my hurried signature, asks, "is that really your signature?" Woman, have you met me? (The answer is presumably no, but still) Do you think, now, of all times, when I am going to be late to work, I am going to choose to have a clear signature? I shoot her some sarcastic remark as I run to get on the 832.

The 832. As we got in the left-turn lane, I realized that I got back on to the bus that I had just gotten off of. I was with the same people who saw me desperately peer out of the windows in hopes that I wasn't going to miss the 850. The bus driver dropped me off at the first stop, just as I saw the 850 turn left and away from me. Sigh. The life of the bus people.

So I call my boss and explain and luckily it was a pretty slow morning so she was not too worried about my tardiness. So a half hour later, I take the next 850. It is running a bit late and continues to increase its tardiness after about 15 people with disabilities get on the bus. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I am not one to make light of people with disabilities. Lets get that out of the way. But they do naturally take a longer time, especially the man in the wheel chair.

Finally we are on our way. Things are going fine and then it is time for this group to get off the bus at their after high school learning program. And they get off. All except one. She is enjoying the bus ride and as an adult it would be disrespectful to just remove her from the bus. So the bus driver finally gets all of the remaining passengers (me and a guy who just stood a little bit too close for my liking) to get off of the bus, in hopes of convincing her that all the fun is off the bus. So we get off and she stays on. The director of the school comes on to talk to her. Nothing. Its been 15 minutes. I am now contemplating just walking and hoping that it was not too far. Finally, just as I had moved about 30 yards from the bus, the young woman is pulled off. I get back on the bust, after 25 minutes of waiting and realize that I am really going to be late. Luckily the rest of the trip was fine. I was 59 minutes late to work.

The thing is, none of this would have happened if I had just taken the first bus. I wonder, was it karma for hating on that stupid woman or for sneaking on the bus the day before because it was leaving right when I got to the station and I didn't have time to buy a pass? As a person of faith, was it a test to see how I would treat others? I think the answer to this isn't really a yes or no. I thought about all of these things during those 25 minutes and realized that I was getting frustrated with this woman, but in reality I was just frustrated with being late. One of the girl's supervisors told me that she had gotten that girl to get out of bed by telling her that they were going to take a bus ride. And their bus ride was so short, I would have felt ripped off too. I also was humbled when I realized that I had left my credit card at the bus station and had to look that lame lady in the face.

I still don't think things happen for a reason. I was running late. I made a foolish choice. Still, I wonder why it is that whenever I miss the bus, something crazy happens to me. Perhaps, crazy things happen when I do not miss it, but I don't give those stories any validation because I don't need to. Maybe I just validate these ones because I need some good stories to rationalize all the lameness associated with missing the bus.