the people must have something good to read on sunday

with an unprescendented resolve, I am ready to have a productive busride. With no obnoxious screenings of "Just Like Heaven" in the coach to stop me, I pick up my copy of "Democracy and Education" and do my best to command the respect of all those around me. I am here to do work, goddammit. I am here to get things done. Then, it happens.
PFFFFFPT!
what is this??! I turn around and try to find this infantile mysterio who has the audacity to make raspberry noises! My search concludes with nary a single baby on the bus. I chalk it up to a fluke-one of those rare but not all-together unheard of occasions where the wheels on the bus sound like a human's tounge applying pressure to its lips.
I begin reading. I am anxious, reading each line with great trepidation. Nothing. Two pages go by and bam! I am awoken from my academic slumber once again this time with a chuckle! I am taken off-guard. As I slowly turn around, it becomes evident that a large schizophrenic gentleman and I are both taking a trip to our nation's capitol. He appears to be having a much grander time than I, blowing bubbles and all. When I turn around, I can now hear him muttering unintelligbly. He is seated by himself. How did I miss this? How did everyone else miss this?
I become amazed that this man is not only traveling by himself but also has the capacity to purchase a $40 dollar ticket (ANOTHER INCREASE IN PRICE!).
All of these thoughts leave me after I turn around again. He looks at me dead into the eye. Hethen proceeds to stick out his tounge and blow. I put on my portable DVD player and watch episodes of "The Wire" until the only thing I hear is the fictious jive of the streets of Baltimore.

John Dewey defines communication as a process of sharing experience till it becomes a common possession. Clearly, he never rode the bus.

for tonight so that i might see

I take a later bus than anticipated due to work obligations. I take my time getting to the station-always a mistake. Due to the unpredictable nature of all things Greyhound, it is best to get there early. Case in point: turns out I checked the incorrect option when scheduling my bus and was required to print out an e-ticket instead of my preferred method of ticket retrevial, will-call. I panic. This has happened once before so I know that a customer service representative can help, but it becomes a question of whether they will.
Myself: "So where can I print out this email? Do you have any suggestions in the area?"
Customer Representative: "I think there might be a hotel around here? There's probably a library somewhere too..."
M:"Do you know the actual locations of any of these places?"
CR:"No. Try Union Station."
M:"Do they have printers available, do you know?"
CR:"No. But it's big there."

These negotiations are ardeous and going nowhere. After looking around to size up any viable options, I decide to head back to the service desk for a second opinion. It should be noted that during this entire time, I am merely feet away from an empty office with a visible computer and printer.

Myself: "Hi. I just spoke to someone else a couple of minutes ago...Is there anyway you can print out my E-Ticket? I'm really sorry but I don't know where else to do this"
CR: "Have you tried Union Station?" *
M: "No, not yet. I was wondering if there was any way you could just use that printer in that empty office over there? (Points to the office with printer that is in line of sight with the both of us)
CR: "Let me see what I can do"

Ten minutes later, my ticket is indeed printed and I am on the bus. There is no moral here. My only epiphany came while watching Down by Law, realizing that it is the third Roberto Benigni film I've watched on a bus.



*it should be noted for those of you not familar with Washington DC that getting to Union Station, the believed answer to any/all travelers woes, requires getting on the Metro one stop or at least a 20 minute walk.