Chronicles 3:11 - 522 Alternate Route Selection

2/9/2009 - Snow? I woke and looked out my window into the darkness alit with a definite whiteness covering the ground. Rubbing my eyes and not believing what I'm seeing, it must be a mistake, no way.

No mistake as I step out the front door on my way to the park and ride. A thick layer of white, like frosting covers my pickup as if it were a large cake. Most of it rode with me to the bus stop, some of it found its way inside when I first opened my door. ARGH!!!

I arrive at the park and ride, slither over to the "line" and this time take my place, not the usual anti line spot, but actually in line. I have to admit, the unquestioned obedience is rather nice while my mind is oddly blank. Although I made sure to drift back away from the line for affect of those waiting behind me. Sleepy and confused faces are not sure what to do about this gap in the line.

There's some sort of murmuring beside me. It's a cluster of other riders. I listen in;

"The 520 bridge is closed" said a female voice. I wince at the traffic snarl I know that comes with the slightest interruption of the daily commute.

"Oh no!" says another lady.

Thoughts of running away from this line invade me;

"Take your truck! Take your truck to work!" exploded between my ears before common sense kicked in and said "You will get nowhere fast because traffic is gonna be a huge mess". I stood there shocked by my involuntary brain function so early in the morning and continued to listen, pulling my foot back. Now a man and lady joined the discussion.

"They are re-routing across I90" he said and is all I could make out. The lady said something about still having to transfer once the bus gets downtown. Something else shocks me; another idea. I couldn't speak right away, feeling sorta like running in water. Before I could manage even a sound, the lady next to me spoke again, mirroring my thoughts.

"I guess I'll take the 522 instead".

522 is my backup plan when 311 is late, doesn't arrive or is a victim of a terrorist attack. It's not Metro either, it's Sound Transit. 311 crosses Lake Washington on the 520 bridge. A re-route could mean hours waiting in traffic on the only path across the lake on I90. 522 follows Highway 522 around the north end of Lake Washington to downtown Seattle. Very ingenius those Sound Transit people are, making the route number the same as the road it rolls on. Impressive.

Now 311 is late, very late. It's supposed arrive @ 6:15. The cattle waiting in line are getting restless. I pray we don't have a stampede when the bus finally arrives. It's nearly 6:30 and the 522 rolls up. A few of the line members (me included) move directly for the bus as it arrives. Others look confused, bewildered not sure to stay or go. A couple more follow the rest of us to the bus. A good portion of the line stays to catch the elusive 311.

Sound Transit buses are much nicer than Metro. Their seats recline, there's a footrest and overhead storage for your bags. They do have air conditioning too. Metro didn't spring for these extra luxuries. They went with the stripped down cattle car version apparently. I have to say, it was a pleasant ride to work. Not much for traffic even. I was a bit shocked. As I sat there and sipped my latte in a relatively empty bus, I felt something coating my lips. Rubbing them with my finger, I saw small pieces of pinkish flesh colored something on my finger tip.


Finally, I notice my latte cup and chuckle to myself. Check out the cap;

Lipstick around the lip. creamy nose print on the top.

I wonder if Goldilocks was here?

I wish I had a mirror. I wonder what my face looks like. Oh well. Since I didn't spot any freaks on the bus this morning I guess it's my turn to play the role. I rubbed my nose, I tried rubbing the cup clean, but no avail. It appears these are now permanent additions to the cup as I could not remove it from the lip or lid.



I need to have a talk with my Barista....



;^)