I had a new adventure yesterday. My big adventure was riding the bus on a super warm day in the middle of menopause and hot flashes. I hadn't planned on taking two busses to get to one destination. But, sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Yesterday was one of those days.
I had to go and see my mom in the "skilled facility nursing home" as they call it. I see very few people with a lot of skills there, except for talking skills. But, there are some good people who work there and I am grateful for them. Since I don't drive nor have a car and usually get rides from my nephew it was a challenge for me yesterday when he was at work and there was nobody to give me a ride. I thought briefly about calling a cab and when I called they said that it was $3 per mile but of course that didn't include traffic lights and stops so I figured that from here to there would be about 10-12 bucks. I calculated the amount of the money to take the bus for me and my son which would have been 2.10 for me and 1.05 for him which is one way. So, the question was did I have the inclination to catch a bus or money, money, money for a cab. I was sweating so much I decided to take a cab there and the bus back. The cab costs what I had expected almost $11 bucks for a few miles, I think like 3 miles but you have to include the traffic lights which I noticed at each light that meter went up 20 cents and when we were there he just had to turn the corner the meter went from $10 even to $10.90. I was not too happy about that but my hot flashes thanked me. We stayed and visited with my mom for a long time, as long as we could without my son getting too antsy trying to control his urge to take a ride on the wheelchair down the halls screaming look at me or something similar. He did sit in the chair when my mom was not in it and asked if he could pop a wheelie. My answer was a louder then usual NO! I think they heard me in the hallways.
We were there for about 4 hours and then decided to leave after she fell asleep. We migrated to the bus stop about a couple of blocks away and waited for the bus and waited and waited. It said the next bus was in 18 minutes. 18 minutes turned into about 25 minutes sitting in the hot sun or standing in the hot shade. The first bus finally came. We hopped on and I tried to put the money in a machine that looked like the change machine at the laundry matt. The first two dollar bills no problem the last one kept spitting back to me and finally after about 4 tries it went in. It was stubborn dollar bill. I hadn't ridden the bus in about a year so I was not used to this new change.
But, the people were the same who rode the bus as I remembered them. Different faces but same attitudes. One guy accidently hit another guy with his backpack getting on the bus. The seats are so close together you almost have to be a size 0 to fit down the aisles without hitting anyone with your backpack, or hands. The seats are smaller then small. The guy apologized to the guy for accidently hitting him and apparently the guy was not in the mood for accepting apologies and said a few harsher then necessary words back and continued on his personal rampage for the next several minutes.
One older lady wanted a transfer that they don't give out anymore and settled on an all day pass that she said she didn't need but had no choice in buying and accused the bus company of being a bully. I secretly agreed and laughed in my head. She instructed the driver not to move the bus until she sat down and he didn't. I can't blame her though. Once the bus moves it is every person for themselves trying to grab something to hold on to as fast as some of them drive. Some kids got on and I was expecting more of them but thank goodness only a few caught that bus. They sat there mostly taking selfies with their friends. They were all attached to their phones like third arms if they had them.
A hot, very hot as in I thought for a brief moment about taking off my shirt but I didn't want to get arrested and scare everyone on the bus to death. So, I removed my light jacket instead. I tied it around my waist and prayed that we would get to the next bus stop where I needed to get off and catch the next bus. I eventually made it to my next destination.
After seeing the Subway two feet from the last bus stop I need to be at I decided, or my stomach decided for me, that it was time for something to eat. Never did I dream when I went in dripping with sweat that two foot long sandwiches, just that and a drink would cost almost $20. I think next time one foot long and sharing it with my son and no drink except the free water, which may or may not be free if not then nothing until we get home. I counted my dollar and change and put a couple more together for the bus which was scheduled to arrive in 20 minutes. I tried to find some shade to stand in but even still the hot flashes were relentless and I probably would still be hot in Alaska in the dead of winter. So, finally the bus came and another $3.15 left my pockets. But, the dollars and the machine cooperated this time. My son complained about I was smashing him in the tiny seats. I told him to hold on that we would be home in a few minutes. Actually, it took like 15 to our stop and we were both miserable. But, we had to suck it up and roll on the bus home.
By the time we got home I was tired and sweaty and just wanted to change out of my drenched shirt and rest. I did both. Go figure when I got home the flashes finally stopped coming every 4 seconds.
So, today, my nephew was off work. He took us back today and this time we stayed for the majority of the day until they fed everyone dinner. It was a long day but my mom did really well today with all the physical therapy and stuff they had her do. Her spirits were good and now hopefully, very soon our bus riding days to that place will be over. I know they will be over sooner then the hot flashes.
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