It is so easy to become caught up
in our own world, blocking out external social influences. I ride public transportation to work
everyday. I live in the greater Los
Angeles area, so what the heck?! I
know. In the land of 2.5 cars for every
person, I leave mine parked. Before I
start sounding ‘greener’ than I am (I appreciate that I have a smaller carbon
footprint than I did 5 years ago), I take the subway because it is convenient
and economically advantageous. However,
it has afforded me some wonderful benefits.
I have edited 3 of my books and written 2 while riding the train. I completed 50% or more of my graduate
coursework while riding the train. I am
writing to you right now while riding the train. I have fallen asleep….
(snore)
…while riding the train. One of the best benefits (not the workout my
immune system gets fighting all of the germs and viruses) is I get to people
watch. The human is an interesting
creature. What we do. How we do it and why are all so
fascinating. One day I will devote a
post or two specifically to my transportation adventures. Not today.
Today’s subject is people watching.
And not just watching, but interacting.
Riding public transportation forces me to walk the streets of downtown
Los Angeles and at times I cannot help but interact with my environment. (Sometimes against my will – lol) This morning, I had a great and brief
conversation with another commuter who cycles to the train station. I had to admit that I drive. (He lives 2 miles away from his station; I
live only 1 mile from mine!) Cycling has
been a part of his commute to work for 9 years and he loves it. I want to get to that point. I told him I will attempt to ride to the
station this Friday. We all will
see. In my defense, the ride is not far
at all. I ride much farther on
weekends. The problem is I live at the
top of a steep hill. (did I mention it
is at the top of a steep hill?) After
working 8+ hours during the day and riding trains for 45 minutes, the last
thing I want to do is get on my bike and struggle up a hill. Anyway, I digress. Later today, while WALKING during lunch J, I encountered a
homeless man. This is not unusual at
all. I see them everyday, but this
gentleman stood out to me. I decided to
put a buck in his cup. I asked his name
(Gerard), shook his hand (for you germophobes, I washed it later), and
introduced myself. He was honest in his
approach. He shared he had messed up his
life (I assume, drug related) and was trying to get it back on track. He said he was collecting money to buy some
used clothes so he could go back to work.
I sized up him and figured I have plenty of clothes I could donate to
him. We chatted a little more than I invited
him to meet me in the same spot in a couple of days and I would have some items
for him. Hopefully, they will bless
him. If so, I can only attribute my
being in tune to him is because I commute on public transportation. In a small way, it keeps me in touch with
humanity and less isolated in a world where privacy is a religion and personal
space is a god.
Please do not take that last
statement as a judgment of any kind.
Hopefully, it will be an encouragement to get out and talk to someone
new.
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