5 NB, 6:50a
Everyone knows each other.
“Have a blessed day.”
Hugs.
“How’s your mama?”
“Is that where you’re cooking at now? ..Their roux is not bangin’, bro.”
One tiny human gets off the bus and turns to the driver and says, “Byyyyyyye,” while waving enthusiastically, strapped into a small Spiderman backpack with matching superhero shoes.
Someone sneezes and four different people respond with, “Bless you,” then giggle about it.
One person compliments another on their style, and find out so and so’s cousin does both of their hair.
2nd and Marquette transfer hub, 7:16a
I’m sitting on the granite planters, swinging my feet in a sun dress, balancing on the ledge with my backpack on and spine straight. Spidey sense goes off as a passerby walks by too close, almost brushing me with their bag. About a dozen people are waiting in the same area for their bus. I am the only female.
“Are you waiting for a bus?”
I point to the digital marquee and nod.
“Where do you live? Where are you going?”
A bus passes by so I can pretend not to hear the question.
“Where do you live? Where are you going?”
Luckily, a lot of buses pass by here. I’m not swinging my feet anymore and my back is stiff as a board as I avoid eye contact and ignore this person.
“Hey. Hey! I’m trying to get to Roseville.”
I point to the transit map, under the digital marquee I already pointed out.
“Are you going to help me?! I need to get to Roseville! Why are you being so stuck up??” They are gesturing with their bag and their voice is getting high pitched and angry as they are saying this, as everyone else pretends nothing is happening.
“Look dude, I’m just trying to catch a bus, figure it out over there,” and point to the transit map again. They walk off in a huff, and without looking at the map storm off to wait in a transit shelter for their bus, while shooting eye daggers in my direction. My bus came and I made sure they didn’t follow me before I sat down.
250M, 7:25
A big, articulated bus for 10 people. It’s like this every time I ride.
At the Wells Fargo stop, everyone goes into the building, and I cut across the parking lot, through a boulevard of mowed grass, wood mulch and planted flowers, across a two lane road, to Rice Creek Park. I see a small black bird dive bombing a hawk like a maverick, driving it away from the trees. Mallards. Geese. A half of a squirrel. Shimmering leaves and moving water. Birdsong, rustling grass, a jet plane, my jingling keys. Low areas are flooded and shady spots are still heavy with dew. A mile later I cross busy County Road I and reach my building, where people walking from their single occupancy vehicles look at me strangely.
Total travel time: 1 hour 40 minutes