Bus Report #1095

Yesterday afternoon I booked it to the bus, and had the good fortune to catch it without having to speedwalk or break into a run. The driver? A familiar face, our old friend Keith.

"Haven't seen you in ages," he said, grinning.

"Hey, good to see you," I told him. "What's new? What's the gossip?"

He smiled again and told me of his recent travels to Japan, then said "otherwise, not a whole lot."

The bus was virtually empty and I settled into a seat near the back. We didn't stop much and never filled up which I took to mean we were tailgating another bus, but no.

As we approached McAllister Keith announced it would be the last stop, that we'd have to get out and get on the bus right behind him. 

Okay, then.

We all deboarded at McAllister (I waved and shouted my goodbyes) and transferred to another 22 Fillmore moments later. 

Bus Report #1094

 Crowded 22 Fillmore on the way home the other night.

Students and tourists and regular commuters, standing room only until Valencia Street.

At Dolores a man got on and, grinning, launched himself into the arms of another man sitting in front of me. They shared the longest hug - which was just delightful to see - and then had a very animated conversation for the duration of my ride. Brothers, old friends or boyfriends, didn't matter. Pure joy on their faces and it radiated outward.

All the teens these days are dressing like we did back in school and it melts my brain. There have been times when I've looked up from my podcast listening reverie to see a trio of girls that reminded me of MBTA commutes in the 1990s with M. and N., in our wide leg painter's pants and our flannel and our Nirvana T-Shirts.

At Geary we just caught the 38 outbound. Another crowded bus but I slid into a seat between a man who was eating a sandwich and a woman who was facetiming a friend, loudly. I will never understand the urge to do that - I wouldn't even take a regular phone call on Muni.

Hopped out the bus at 9th and walked the rest of the way.