Sunday, April 29, 2007

Waiting at the Bus Stop for The 12

Every morning, I ride the bus to work. And more and more, I realize that everyone else was just waiting with me ... at the bus stop and life.

Really, my life has just been waiting at the bus stop. If right now you are thinking, "Well, you could be doing a whole lot more with your life than waiting, Elaine," then you should think again -- oh, and stop being so freak'n arrogant because you -- you are waiting, too. We are all waiting for something nice to happen to us, hoping that what we do while we wait will help speed up the process a little. Much like those that pound on the button for the crosswalk signal -- as if hitting the button harder and more frequently will produce instant miracles. If you ask them what they're doing, chances are that "I'm trying to get the crosswalk signal on so that I can cross the damn street!" will be your answer. Gratifying, eh?

Life is like this: you stand at the bus stop and hope for the next bus that shows up to be the one you've been waiting for -- maybe the 12 that goes to the Tigard Transit Center if you were me, or the 99 that gets you to your happy place, or that 57 that will give you a ride to a loving relationship.

Along the way, you might have gotten on the wrong bus a couple of times ... or many more. You know, like the absolute disasterous relationships, or the blunder career choice, or the wrong crowd of friends and silly decisions that got you in so so so much trouble back in high school and college. But you know, along the way, you probably have seen some scenery and made some friends on that bus some of us could never imagine. Heck, you might even figure out what life means on one of these joy rides.

But ultimately, you've gotta get off if it's the wrong bus. So you wait again, at the bus stop, and maybe entertain yourself with something while you're waiting: maybe you might study the sun's position, or read some left over newspapers or talk to a fellow bus rider who might teach you a thing or two -- sounds a lot like school, huh? Well, that's really what school is; it's something you do while you wait 'til you're ready -- or 'til the bus is ready to come to you.

Oh, the 12. It's the 12! It's what you've always been waiting for! Well, you get on, and you better not be looking back for a more comfortable or a faster ride because none of it matters anymore. If you are thinking to yourself, "Man, I really could have been that or gone there instead and be happier," then I can pretty much guarantee that you're on the wrong bus, and you'll be off in the next 5 minutes.

I can tell you that because I know this secret: what you could have been instead of what you are now never existed. I can tell you that because I have a story of my own. See, a great deal of many people have told me that I could be such and such a big shot at blankity blank department or company if I could keep at it. If I could stay focused and baggage-free, I could even go around the world to make something of myself -- even make something of the world! All I had to do was to stay focused, stay single, and stay perfect.

I know, it sounds tempting. But the fact of the matter is I saw the 12, I knew I wanted to get on it because it will lead me to Happyville. The 21 would have as well -- you know, the international express to the UN or something? But now that I am on the 12, I know this is the right bus, and the international express 21 to the UN becomes obsolete. The 12 led me to a home, a family, a wonderful other half, happiness .... The 12 was the right bus, you see. I know because I don't miss waiting for the 21. When you don't miss waiting for something else, you know you are happy with what you've got, and what you've got is right for you.

Well, if you ride the bus as much as I do and don't have the ride all figured out, I suppose life is just gonna get boring.

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