There's a bus stop in town across the street from the state library. It's a huge transfer spot. I remember giddily waiting for a bus with my first boyfriend, Doug, during our first date. Catching the bus after a museum symposium with Charlie a couple of decades later.
My favoritest memory, though, is from high school. It could have been any afternoon on any given weekday when I was in the tenth grade. Blythe, Cedric, La'akea, and I would often catch the city bus from Terminal to downtown and grab snacks at Jack in the Box or Orange Julius ("two strawberry Julii, please!") or Blythe's mom's workplace. Others would make frequent cameos-- Shani, Wendy, Merf?
But I remember us sprawled out on the lawn of that bus stop, all of us waiting for our separate busses to take us home. The sun low in the sky, the heat still gross. If I strain hard enough, I'm sure I could remember bits of conversation, but I won't do that.
Just envisioning us sitting together on that lawn, now as an adult, makes me smile. It makes me wistful. And what did we really have in common at the time except Honors English and TheBus?
It really didn't matter, did it? For that year, my tenth grade year of high school, we were a bunch. We adventured together and ate together. WE CAUGHT THE BUS TOGETHER.
I haven't spoken with Blythe or Cedric in many years, and La'akea-- I miss him being in the world. If we were 15 years old right now, we'd likely have choke selfies taken at bus stops and fast food restaurants. In reality, I don't think a single photo of all of us together exists.
Just know, friends, what a treasured piece of history this is for me, and that I think of you fondly, especially when I drive past that bus stop.
Side note: these days, I avoid catching the bus at this stop-- so many people! And I sure as SHIT would not even think about sitting on the grass-- ew! Also, while I can't find any photos of us together (and I don't think I have a picture of La'akea at all), I have tons of pics of ME at bus stops. Here's one:
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