5-9: Mother's Day reflection

This weekend I had the opportunity to join seven other moms on a weekend getaway. Like a temperamental, stubborn toddler, I insisted on having my way and meeting the group via bike/bus instead of allowing myself to be picked up at home. My plan was to bike to our usual stop, put my bike on the bus and travel to the store where I could chain it up for the weekend, then catch another bus to meet the group. I needed to leave my bike at the store since my bus wouldn't be running on Sunday when I return. We were having lots and lots of rain, but I continued as planned. As Corey came home I was preparing to head out. I donned my foul weather gear (bright red rain pants and red/white rain jacket) and felt incredibly nervous. He convinced me to go with the flip flops instead of the knee-high rubber boots because they took up less space. We had a back-up plan if I felt I was unsafe or if it was too much to handle. I convinced myself that this was an ideal trial in the pouring rain without the kids.

I made it easily to the bus stop and waited. . .and waited. . .and waited. Meanwhile, as it's evening time when people are getting home from work and after-school activities I was a little self-conscious about all of the on-lookers. Just as I was about to give up thinking I may have missed the bus I saw it's lights approaching. Whew! Now I just needed to figure out how to operate the bike rack on the front of the bus. Fortunately the driver was friendly and patient with me as I hoisted my bike into the rack and secured it.

Once on the bus I was caught off guard by many things. First, the bus was packed, something that we haven't seen yet. Second, my warm dry refuge wasn't so dry - the bus roof was leaking and dripping water onto all of its passengers. Don't take of the rain gear yet! Third, a blind man came onto the bus and asked for assistance from the driver to find Rite Aid. Fourth, I was the only person on the bus with "proper" rain attire - only one person had an umbrella and only one person had a rain coat. Everyone else was soaked. Finally, we stopped to pick up a woman who asked for a free ride to the store explaining that she was paid by check and had no cash for the fare. The driver invited her on and said not to worry about paying double next time. All of these observations made me feel very small about this game / challenge I've created for myself. This isn't a joke for these people. They're trying to get through life any way they can - even if it means standing soaking wet in the rain to catch a bus to their future.

We made our way to the store and I got off to chain my bike, pick up some chips for the road and catch my next bus to meet the ladies. I wasn't expecting to be examined so critically and insulted by my fellow shoppers. Yes I was wearing full-body rain gear and yes I was very wet (on the outside but bone dry underneath!). I received many disgusted stares and a couple actually laughed at me and made fun of me after I passed them. People gave me extra space as if I was contagious and they would turn into a rain-gear wearing wet rag if they came too close to me. I wanted to blow it off but I couldn't help but feel a little hurt as I boarded my second leaky bus of the day.

We had a wonderful time this weekend but my mind keeps drifting back to the memories of my experience Friday evening. I think that in this area, unlike Chicago, there exists a stereotype that public transportation patrons either cannot afford a vehicle or lost their license to drunk driving or have some other unpleasant reason for taking the bus. I was on the receiving end of this stereotype Friday and it felt awful. I will definitely temper my future thoughts and assumptions about others and am very happy I didn't write about the people on the bus for my Friday entry!