A small tragedy took place on the greyhound today. somewhere between cedar city and provo....i fell asleep.
You see, this is the first time i've ever traveled by greyhound. daddy dropped me off at the bus gathering. i waited in line behind dozens of weary travelers. some sitting on their luggage, some dozing off with headphones in and hoodies up, some anxiously glancing around at all the other pre-boarders. i was one of the glancing-around ers.
My ticket in hand, luggage at foot, and backpack between my legs, i waited. looking and acting like i'd done this before. i'm a good actress. and i have a solid "don't mess with me" voice and look at times such as these.
"Don't wander up and down the isle when you get in. it's probably just as well you take the first seat you see..." dad advised as we inched up in line.
"The best seat is the third row back behind the driver. that way, you get a breeze every time the door opens, and you don't have to deal with the strange people and screaming babies in the back." i remembered my friend, who often takes the greyhound, telling me days before.
I boarded.
There was a shuffling of people and tic-tac-toeing of seats being taken. i walked halfway down the isle, scavengering for a place. then quickly decided to hustle back toward the front and claim an open seat asap.
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"Got 4th row back on right...next to a big guy.
He seems harmless..." -ME |
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"I hope he is. You can call or text me or mom any
time throughout the day. Good luck!" -DAD |
The man i sat next to was a large Mexican. not english speaking...but he sure tried. we had mini conversations throughout the ride. i conversed a little in spanish as well, but honestly i wasn't much in the conversing mood anyway, so i gave in to the solitude of bus riding for most of the way.
He was super nice & friendly. he even considered buying me something from mcd's when the bus stopped to eat in st george. "I was thinking about you" he said after everyone reboarded, "i wasn't sure if you had something to eat already." it was funny coming from a chubby mexican man in broken english with a big goofy grin on his face. made my day. haha
The journey continued. the bus driver was great. he went 80 mph the whole way. we were passing up all the little cars on the highway and making record time. he even wore those cool flip-up sunglasses for good measure and took total control of the trip. i trusted him, which is good. i was able to rest peacefully.
But like i said, somewhere between cedar and provo, i dozed off. doubled over and with my blanket wrapped snuggly around me.
I'm sure you are all familiar with the dreaded stranger-fell-asleep-on-your-shoulder threat that can potentially occur any time you travel next to someone you don't know.
Well, here's where the tragedy lies...
That person
was me!
I started off sleeping something like the girl in purple, which is where i sat:
And i woke up on his knee!!!!
oh the shame!!! there i sat waiting for him to say something....nada.
Whew.
But i can't believe it was me. of all dreaded luck! of all crowns of horror! of all the tabulating wolves of humiliation! >>>I WAS THE SLEEPING STRANGER. on the man's knee of all things! well, i guess that was the good part. that part of it could've been much worse...but still!
The man was so nice. i fell asleep again shortly after and you know what he said??
"You sleep for one hour!"
I nodded.
"Tha's gooood," he said as he gave me a thumbs up and smiled.
I chuckled inside. this man is somethin else. of all people to awkwardly fall asleep on, i'm glad it was him haha.
As we arrived to SLC, he said "This trip was good. i made a new girlfriend...girlfriend? girl-friend? friend that's a girl...how do you say? amiga?"
Me: "Friend"
Him: "Yes." then he smiled again. "Next time i come to vegas, i will visit you in the hospital!"
Me: "Aw you don't want to visit me
there, it means that you are probably my patient! and that would be bad"
He laughed. "Yeah. but i will still visit you anyways."
Hahahaha not really what i expected on my first greyhound adventure, but at least it was memorable.
