Rain.
Sometimes I hate it. But most of the time, I love it.
Getting to work in the rain has to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever been a part of. As soon as I woke up, I could tell it was grey, wet and cold outside. I wasn't quite prepared for the torrential downpour, but I had to get to work...somehow! My bus was due any minute, so I grabbed all my crap and ran outside.
I clutched my umbrella in one hand, and my (rice) english muffin with (fake) cream cheese in the other. I waited impatiently while my bus took it's sweet time. Then, as it pulled around the corner, I contemplated how the heck was I going to get on, hold my breakfast, close my umbrella and swipe my card, all without getting wet or slipping.
As we made our way down the rain soaked streets, I finished my breakfast and contemplated how dry I could possibly stay between transferring buses and walking the rest of the way to work. Possible, but not probably. Actually, no - impossible!
A man passed by as he exited and jokingly said, "Can I borrow your umbrella?". I smiled, but was really thinking, "over my dead body!".
A few minutes later, I get off to transfer to my next bus. I huddled under the bus shelter, but little good it did me - a Honda element streaked by, spewing a tidal wave of street water at me as it passed. I never had a chance...all I had time for was a little yelp of surprise. As I stood there wondering how long it would take my sneakers and leggings to dry, I saw something that made me smile.
A girl encased in an oversized poncho slowly makes her way under the awning, her backpack a huge lump underneath the plastic. The suitcase she is dragging behind her matches, with the wheels poking out of a white kitchen trash bag. Ten long minutes later, our bus arrives. Surprisingly, baggage girl makes it up the steps (albeit not without some difficulty) while juggling her purse, umbrella, suitcase and backpack. And then she proceeds to stand in the aisle, taking up the space of two normal people and blocking the aisle for the remainder of her ride.
At V street, a girl walks on with her umbrella still open, and sprays water all over the poor bus driver as she closes it. She giggles and says, "oops". I mean, really?? As if that isn't bad enough, the fare reader is broken. You would think this would be helpful, but it actually causes a traffic jam - as each new customer steps onto the bus, the driver repeats patiently, "Fare reader's broken, come on back. It's broken...". For some reason, no one ever hears him the first time, probably because they're too preoccupied to notice others.
Everything continues to be fairly normal until we come to the Florida Ave. stop, and an old man who looks to be about 97 shuffles on. Poor man, he can't hear a thing! The bus driver attempts to get his attention and explain about the fare reader, getting louder with each try. "Sir, the fare reader's broken. Sir. SIR. SIR!!! IT'S BROKEN". Nothing. The little old man doesn't bat an eyelash as he continues to pat his pockets in search of his money. He doesn't notice a thing until the driver starts waving his hands. As he holds out his dollar, the bus driver points at the machine and shakes his head. A look of confusion spreads across the old man's face, as he questions, "freeeeee?". Aw :) He finally understands, and slowly lowers himself into a nearby seat.
I get off the bus a few stops early, having decided to brave the deluge and walk 5 blocks to Cosi - how could I not get a soy chai on a day like today? Besides, thanks to that punk in the Honda, I'm already soggy. Along the rain-soaked streets, I see a cute couple sharing an oversized umbrella while walking and drinking coffee, a girl with a sweater tied around her head, and several smart people in rain boots (do I earn enough to invest in a pair?). Oh how I love the rain :) I finally make it to Cosi, get my chai, and tuck myself into a cozy window booth to watch the people pass by.
