Train Spotting, Bus Hopping and the hypocrisy in-between…

Planes, Trains and Automobiles…and I opted for the bus. Last week I got a ticket for parking in the only spot left in a two block radius of my dorm. In a rage and an act of defiance, I have decided to bus hop. That’s right leave my car in the more than, capable hands of the UPD (University Police Department) to watch in the minuscule patch of gravel they call a parking lot downtown. You can all start laughing now (Albany has a problem with car thieves). Anyways, yesterday morning I got up about 20 minutes early and walked out amongst my people. That’s right, my people. My peers and dorm room acquaintances. It gave me a sense of community as the myriad of chorused yawnings came to my ear and begged me to join along. I got on the bus and arrived 10 minutes before my class started. Had lunch, two more classes before I decided to head home. As I waited for the next bus, to arrive I was able to relax, no fighting in traffic, no fingers flying south, no red-light-running…peace. Well as much peace as you can get with 30 college students riding together. As I was saying I proceed on to the bus and take a seat, I look outside, open the window and taste the polluted air; suddenly….I notice the bus is going in the opposite direction of where I want to go!…I come to a small panic and after the bus drivers second stop, I find that I needed to take the bus that proceeded his. Mercy. I got dropped off at a reasonable distance to where, I first began riding and had to walk back to my original point of refuge. I did finally get on the right bus and travel home but, in that I lost my original sense of novelty. Now it was just a mild irritation and small box full of sweaty students…Needless to say, today I drove my car and made Ralph Nader cry the day I made public transportation die.
“Drove my Chevy to the levy but, the levy was dry
Good ol’ boys were drinking whiskey and rye singing
this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die.” -American Pie, Don McLean.