Saturday, February 21, 2009

I crossed two bridges today! (Real not metaphorical)

It was very exciting.

Today was a super busy, really long, quite strenuous day at work and the flying bits of flaming artichoke didn't help much either. (How's that burn, Cassie? My hand finally stopped smelling.)

Even though I was really tired when I finally got home, I knew that I had to utilize this possible last day of sunshine. I took the MAX downtown because I am NOT one to drive if I can get away with it. Add up the cost of gas, the road rage, and the fact that I always, inevitably, get lost, it's best if I take public transportation.

I started off at Waterfront Park, walked down to the Steel Bridge, over to the (Vera Katz) Eastbank Esplanade, down to the Hawthorne bridge and back to 2nd and Morrison to take the MAX home. It was quite uneventful except it seemed that EVERY SINGLE runner felt the impulse to spit just as he was running by me. It got old fast. Blech.

So the mini-day trip was all well and good. It was the MAX ride home (as usual) that compelled me to write.

The girl sitting behind me was having the most amazing conversation with her boyfriend and because I didn't want to forget a word of it, I spent the whole time transcribing into the notepad on my cell phone. Looks like that 2nd job as a transcriptionist and my 80wpm typing speed have finally paid off. That's right. 80wpm. If I set my sights high enough, I could be a receptionist.

"He asked me if I speak Spanish and I said, "No, I'm not Mexican!"

Classic. But it gets better. Much better.

"I know he's from Guadalajara, but if he's your friend, why is he always trying to get on me?"

I don't even know what that means, but I loved hearing it!

"Can I beat your girlfriend up?... Are you starting to care about her?... Because first you said I could beat her up and now you say I can't... That's messed up, you're always telling me you love me. So are we together or not?"

This is when my logical side started thinking this is not a MAX conversation she needs to be doing this in private and my gossipy side was begging that the conversation would go on forever. Guess which side won another round? Here comes the best part.

"Okay, because if I get pregnant, then what are you going to do?... then forget about that girl... WHAT?!... then forget about both of them."

If I hadn't been sitting RIGHT in front of her, I would have burst out laughing, but alas had to settle with a stifled snort or two.

It was then that we went through the Washington Park tunnel and her phone cut out. She did call him right when we got out, but unfortunately it was my stop. I fully and completely would have stayed on the MAX with her but I really had to pee.

The most horrifying part? When I got up to leave and got a good look at her, she was no more than 16 or 17. I wanted to smack her and tell her to get her shit together but instead I just sighed apathetically and got off the train.

1 comment:

Dani McNeill said...

Oh. My. God. A few weeks ago I seriously considered staying on the MAX just so that I could continue to eavesdrop on a conversation. These two women were having a full out juicy girl talk session right there on the MAX. How could I NOT stay on and listen to the conclusion.

One of the chicks had divorced within the past couple years, because her husband stopped boning her. She found it emotionally confusing that he’d try to console her while she was crying in her room, but that he wouldn’t get freaky with her. Anyway, fast forward a few months, she ends up hooking up with a subordinate at work while living in Florida. She gets fired and moves to Oregon. Now the guy from Florida wants her back. The only problem is that he’s still with the same girlfriend from when he and MAX girl first hooked up, oh and he’s in Florida.

And, this is about the time that I had to get off the MAX. Why don’t these people realize that they’re in public places and that people are more likely than not listening in?