On a particularly snowy morning, when the roads were really slick and my little pop can car wouldn’t make it up the hill, I decided to take a city bus into town. I noticed right off that riding a bus really slows things down; it stops, starts and then pauses frequently, giving you time to settle in and reflect. No need to be alert for slick roads or absent minded pedestrians and drivers tuned into their cellphones. They are no longer your concern.
And the people you meet on a bus are a unique bunch; tall, short, brown and white, some young, some old, but all clad in heavy jackets and rubber boots ready to take on the routine adventures of their day. Some seem preoccupied and silent, while others talk, oblivious to the wintery weather just outside their window.
You’ll notice something else that is quite remarkable: a politeness and courtesy which is hard to find these days. For as they disembark, you’ll hear a robust and genuine “thank you” to the bus driver, for delivering them safely. When was the last time you heard anyone saying thanks to a public servant for services rendered?
So the next time the nasty weather hits, consider “taking the bus, Gus”. It is a relaxing and eye-opening Juneau experience!
Greg Capito
Juneau