Sometimes you just need to do it. Find something you've never done before. It doesn't have to be anything big. I mean, really, how many of us are really going to climb Mt. Everest or go skydiving. Well maybe some of you. And good for you for that. But that's not the kind of thing I'm talking about. The things I'm talking about are all around you that other normal people do, but you just never notice, or are afraid to think about.
Perhaps you've never talked to your neighbor because she doesn't look like a very nice person. Maybe you have a hard time hanging pictures on your walls because you're afraid you'll do it wrong. Perhaps you've never eaten bok choy because you never even heard of it. Could you be one of those people whose living room furniture has been in the same position since 1982?
For me, it was Riding The City Bus. I'd never done it. Frankly, I was a little bit scared of it. Why should I need to ride a bus, anyway? That's what cars are for. Buses are for people who don't have cars, or friends with cars, or relatives with cars, or friends' relatives with cars. And even if I did happen to need to get somewhere on a bus, how do I know which bus is going where? How do I get off the bus when I need to? Is there some kind of secret bus-people lingo to use with the driver when you've reached your intended destination?
I picture something a bit like an auction going on at the bus stop.
Bus driver: The bus will be stopping at Adams St., 15th, and 4th Ave. DoIhearanyoneforAdams? Adams? AnyoneforAdamsStreet?
(Someone raises a finger without looking up.)
Bus driver: Sold! Adams Street to the man in the yellow shirt.
(The man steps on the bus.)
Bus driver: DoIhearanyonefor15thstreet? Anyone...
However, last night, while discussing with Seth what our Saturday family activity should be, it came to me. We were thinking of going to the museum downtown, or perhaps walking around the farmer's market. Suddenly, in between thoughts of gas prices and parking spots, I realized we could take a bus.
"The kids would love it," I said to Seth.
"But we've never done it before," he replied, "It'll be difficult."
"That's exactly why we should do it!" I said, jumping up with a smile. "None of us have ever done it before. It'll be like an adventure!"
"Hmm..." Seth said.
It took a little more convincing. I looked up the Idiot's Guide to Riding the Bus for our humble town. You can see a map of all the routes, when each bus will arrive at each stop, how much it costs, etc. Once we realized that the buses show up at the stops every hour and half hour, it started looking much simpler. Then, when we saw that it only costs $1.25 for adults and 60 cents for kids, we were even more sold on the idea.
So we did it. We did something new. Like I thought, the kids loved it. They jumped up and down and cheered when we told them what our plan for the day was. And you know what? It was great! The bus appeared exactly when we thought it would. The bus driver was friendly and patient as we put our money in the machine and the dollar bill wouldn't go in because the corner was wrinkled. There were plenty of people riding the bus. Normal people. There was a family of four, just like us, wearing shorts and sunglasses, heading downtown too. Oh, and by the way, nobody had to auction to exit at their desired stop. Each seat has a button that you push when your stop is coming up. The driver hears a little buzz and pulls over at the next bus stop. Who knew?
We went downtown and enjoyed the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science. Great museum for kids, by the way. There are lots of fun science experiments and hands-on things for the kids to run around and explore. Us grown people like it too! Then we ate a backpack lunch in the park at Kleman Plaza. The weather was gorgeous today! If you didn't go outside, then, shame on you. After that, we played in the gift shop at the IMAX for a few minutes and then rode the bus home just in time for Hopers' nap. (Perfect!!)
What did I learn? Sometime we just have to forget about our pre-conceived ideas and dive in. Join me, the water's good.
6 comments:
Sounds like fun! I have never ridden a city bus except to FSU games. We did use the Capitol shuttle quite a few times before they discontinued it...but never actually riding around the city! Maybe we'll try something like that sometime. Thanks for telling me there is a "Dummies Guide" online so I don't embarrass myself!
yes, i am scared to ride the bus. i would definately bring a husband with me! was it one of the new "green" buses? they are really cool.
I like it! I like trying new things (when I feel up to getting out of my current rut). We really enjoyed the public transit in San Francisco. It never occured to me to try it from our home.
Ahh, riding the city bus brings back so many childhood memories. I started riding the city bus back in 7th grade. Guess that would have made me about 12. All by myself, too. Well, maybe I rode with friends, but they were 12, too. I don't even remember how we knew which bus went where at first, because this was before internet, so we couldn't look things up. I think we just went to the bus stop closest to where we were and just asked the bus drivers questions. Plus, I think I used to notice the bus stop signs and buses driving all over with their big numbers advertising where they were going. It was a different world back then. I haven't rode a bus in 8 yrs now. Maybe I'll take the kids, and Ray, sometime soon, too.
I did that to my Bood after we got married. One Sat he asked what i want to do, "Anything I wanted." Well I wanted to take the bus around to the parks and walk the streets like vagrants with no particular place to go, getting off at random stops and picking up bus schedules and getting on again when we needed some more a/c. We had fun, but he'd never do it again for whatever random reason he makes up that day. I find it liberating to get around without a car. I did it with the Wormy when we had one car, but now "it's not safe to take the kids on the bus...???"
Call me up Gabi, we'll meet up in the bus and take it to the new SuperTarget or somewhere.
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