The Modern Day Homer

You know, we used to have town bars, where people can come after work, vent off their troubles, tell stories, or just hear other people (or themselves) talk. We don’t have those anymore.

Now, we have buses.

Most of the time people on AC Transit choose a spot and just…stare, ignoring everyone around them. Sometimes, you get someone who wants to talk. Tell a story, talk about troubles, whatever. Even more rarely, they’re actually good.

I was riding back today when a (fairly old, gray-haired) lady started reminiscing about going to Richmond High back in the day, and how in high school she got her first car as a gift, and it would be the love of her life. She didn’t look at anyone in particular, she wasn’t telling somebody the tale, she was just talking, to whoever would listen. I looked around, and the fascinating thing was that people around her, slowly, looked up from their cell phone screens, or took out their headphones, or turned from staring out the window aimlessly and watched her.

And they listened.

She spun her tale, like so many spiders spinning around silver threads, and people were captivated. It’s a rare gift to be able to do that. She’s in every way, I think, what a modern bard can be. Board a bus line, spin tales for those riding along, people come on, people get off, and in the middle is the storyteller.

Wouldn’t that be a life.

That’s why making public transportation a widespread thing is so important. Making buses and trains more than just “for people who can’t afford cars”. Sure, there are other reasons for public transportation, reducing emissions and congestions and all that eco-friendly hoobaloo (which is admirable, lest anyone is mistaken), but that’s my reason. The social ramifications. Making the bus more than just a vehicle for people, but for their stories as well.