so we waited until the last possible moment to head to stop and shop...  andre had to work, i was baking, the tree needed attention....  so we finally went to gather last minute veggies and whatnot.  as i headed towards the produce aisle with my cart, who do i see standing in front of the apples?  guess.  ok, i'll tell you: cambodian guy.  there he stood, gazing at the apples with a couple of small packages in his arms.  i pulled my cart off to the side and stood next to him until he looked at me.  it took him only a second to say, "oh! my friend from the bus!".  i smiled; he leaned forward with his hand for a shake, but, i think i surprised him, i reached forward and pulled him into a hug (and was reminded at how small he is). it was such a surprise to see him there and i said so.  he replied that he could not find a job in minnesota.  it seems allstate insurance had nothing for him; he is going to go back "next year".  his in-law did, indeed, house him and even gave him the money to travel back to ri with enough "to go food shopping".  those 2 packages in his arms?  they were ballpark franks.  his plan is to head back there "next year" and he will try again to become an allstate agent.  he gave up his business here to give it a chance in minnesota; he could try again here if his friend would lease him office space and if he could rally up enough funds to buy another computer.  tax season IS just around the corner....  for now?  his ex took him back in (as a room mate just like before) and he has his ballpark franks for christmas dinner..  we parted in front of those apples; he did not buy any, but i noticed he looked at them one more time before he headed to the check out.    no matter what?  he keeps on going.  merry christmas, cambodian guy.

As I noted earlier today on Facebook...  Perpetual Motion Man began making hand motions like he was conducting an invisible orchestra and moving his arms like he was beckoning us all to come listen to the concert...  There were some who moved away from him, switching their seats.  His motions began when the 13 ground to a halt, stuck in traffic on Rt. 37.  His motioning became more frantic.  The longer we sat, he started laughing, "Heh, heh.  Hee HEE!"  More people changed seats.  At one point he rolled his eyes upward, making eye contact with me (I was sitting above him).  I smiled, trying to convey kindness and understanding.  (Was I successful???)  At that point, I had a feeling he was feeling anxious, but I did not know what to do.  I have ridden the 13 with him so many times, and have always kept an eye on him even though he has only ever made motions.  I have ridden the 13 with many others who I keep an eye on....  We are all on a moving tube.  What would we do if any one person SNAPPED?  We are all capable of snapping, I think.  Since Friday, we all still get on that moving tube; there are still those who get on who behave in ways that are outside the norm of public, social behavior.  We board with faith.  We board thinking we can just change seats.  I am here thinking about connecting.  Can I just go beyond smiling in what I hope is an understanding way?  Should I?  Will I change my seat to move TOWARDS Perpetual Motion Man next time?  Would that even make the difference, a connection?  

I actually drove a car yesterday.  It was the first time in well over 2 weeks and it felt great to be behind a wheel.  I was listening to The Moth on WGBH; I love this program!  Each week, some person tells a story, a story that really happened in their lives.  This week a guy spoke about being ship wrecked and having to trek through hot sun and challenging terrain, drinking his own pee when he had hardly any water left, and thinking about his life thus far: wasted on drinking and drugs and neglecting his responsibilities to his friends; he desperately wanted to make up for all of that by making it to civilization so he could rescue the others in his party....  I was alone in the car as I listened, yet felt like I was, all of sudden, on the bus and listening to my fellow passengers.  Anyway, check out The Moth Saturdays at 2 on WGBH (89.7) on your radio.  You will not be disappointed.

I saw her again.  Who IS she and how does she manage to haul those babies on a bus each day?  Where does she go?  Today she was ready for the fare, but she still clutched those babies tight.  So, I have decided to repost my first impression.  (btw, I have since renamed Injured Guy...  Based on subsequent rides, he is now Brass Monkey)

She is tiny. She struggled to hold those 2 babies in her arms and board the bus. She looked relieved when she deposited them, stacked, on the first seat she came upon. She sat, one hand on the baby stack and the other fumbling around in her purse for the fare. The Injured Guy, on his way to the hospital, grimaced as he fished into his coat pocket. He found his bus pass. He stood up slowly, reached forward and swiped it. She looked up, puzzled. He smiled and slowly sat back down. She took her hand out of her purse and lifted a baby from atop the stack, put it on her lap. She pulled a bottle of milk from the stack, too. Now everyone is settled....

The bus was a full 5 minutes early this morning.  That never happens.  I noticed, through the window that Drunk Guy was in his usual front side facing seat by the door; he usually gets off where I was getting on today, so I waited for him to exit.  The driver waved me on and so I boarded.  As I began to head back to my seat, Drunk Guy all of a sudden popped up and said, "OH!  This is where I get off!"  We all laughed and said goodbye.  The bus headed on down South Main Street.  All of a sudden the driver (a newbie) asks what time it is.  The other passenger and I looked up from our books, and I slid one earphone off my head...  "9", we both said.  It was discovered that the driver had misread the time when he left his first stop and so we soon found ourselves sitting outside The Village Pub for the next 10 minutes until time had caught up to the bus.  We continued on our way.  Lots of people got on throughout WW and we headed into Garden City.  I was listening to my Kundalini Yoga Station and attempting to burn through some more of that final book in that horribly written series that has had everyone panting for months (I have begun to skip entire passages and notice that my eyes are continually rolling at each and every redundant sigh, murmur, and whisper).  As we headed out of Garden City and entered the on ramp to 95, I sensed motion in the aisle.  When I looked up, there was a guy standing there; he held a bulky jacket, a back pack, and a to go coffee mug with no lid and he was saying something as he looked at me.  I pulled off one earphone (the same one as earlier) and....
Guy:  Can I sit here?  I wanna see where I am going.
Me:  Sure.  (I hoist my bag into my lap)
Guy:  Do you know where Arctic Center is?  (his open coffee mug tilted dangerously in my direction as he sat down)
Me:  (turning to glance towards the back of the bus and 95 South unravelling behind us) It was back there.  We already went there.  This bus is heading to Kennedy Plaza.
Guy: (looking back, too, then down at his lap and adjusting his coffee mug) I got on the bus in Kennedy Plaza.  I musta nevah got off.
Me: (mentally making a plan for if and when he spilled that coffee on me and suddenly realizing that I saw this Guy get on the bus somewhere in WW, but I do not mention that) Well, I got on the bus in Coventry and you were not on it.
Guy: (stares at me) I just moved to Arctic and I'm not familiar with the area.
Me: (stares back)
Guy: (shifts in his seat and drops his cellphone in the open mug of coffee)
Me: (shifts towards the window)
Guy: (pulls dripping phone outta the mug and uses his jacket to wipe it off)  This is the last upgrade I can get on this phone...
Me: You could try putting it in rice to absorb the moisture..
Guy:  I could put it in mice, really?
Me:  RICE.  You could set it in some RICE if you have some.
Guy: Well, I guess I know what I will be doing tonight.
Me: (thinks, if you actually arrive at your destination) Yep. (decides to get off at the first stop downtown.)  This is my stop.  Good luck with your cellphone and good luck finding Arctic Center.
Guy: (turns to the side so I can get out of the seat) I guess I am gonna be late getting there....