bus rides
Posted by Allison Mack | Filed under Blog
I am taking the bus from Vancouver to Seattle to meet one of my most dearest friends in the world for dinner and twelve amazing women.
I love this. I love the bus, I love the idea of the dinner. I just plain love this.
Whilst on the bus, I met the most fascinating, hungry woman who ended up sitting to my right and chatting with me about everything from gender studies, racism, roommates, family, introspection, changing the world, and school all in a matter of 2 hours. How cool is that?
The two men behind me are discussing the economic crisis in the US and ways of changing and fixing it while the woman to my left has her head neatly tucked in the middle of a foam crescent moon, sleeping . I am surrounded by strangers and yet infinitely fascinated.
I love things like buses and trains, you have a whole whack of people who would never choose to sit together, jammed into a box on wheels for any number of hours. I love to make up stories about the people around me, like… maybe the two men in the back are conspiracy theorists and they are heading to DC to blow up the White House, and the crescent pillow lady to my left is so tired because she was up all night getting wasted at an underground rave in Vancouver.
So fun we are.
xo
a
Tags: dinner, Friends, make believe, people, strangers
78 Responses to “bus rides”
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Tucker Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 6:39 amTook a bus from Miami to Monterey, CA (and then back) years ago. Four day trip each way. It was one altogether one of the most fascinating and freaky experiences. Exhilarating and boring all wrapped together like an odd candy cane. It’s an experience I’d never trade. I’ve driven cross-country nearly 20 times. That has to have been the most memorable of all distinctly memorable events.
And part of the fun was either hearing people’s stories or coming up with your own for others. One of the reasons I’ve always connected with Simon & Garfunkel’s “America” (and it’s good song).
Have fun in the city. It’s lovely – if a little wet – right now.
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Avitable Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 6:44 amYou really are a breath of fresh air. That’s awesome on so many levels.
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edicius Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 6:48 amAh, I remember the days traveling by bus from Michigan to Jersey and back again. Such a cast of characters on the Greyhound during those trips. The one I remember the most was the girl who had run away from home, was on her way back and had decided to take a liking to me for the trip. Fun, bizarre times.
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Jeremiah Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 6:49 amMaking up stories to fill out public strangers is one of my favorite pastimes. Put them in a book (or blog
) cause they make great extras for later writing projects!
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Juan Carlo Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 6:54 amI love taking buses in my country (Venezuela) because you get to see people in their most sincere way– and it isn’t always pretty.
You seem to be exactly like your character –insightful, sweet and easy-going. And thanks so much for being so accesible. Will be very happy to read you.
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Carissa Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 6:57 amI had to write a play for Theatre school a couple years back and one of the inspirations I used for my characters was meeting strangers, I found their character traits more interesting that the people I knew, lol.
Enjoy your trip
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Megan Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 7:05 amI remember when I got to college, someone posted a newsletter in the dorm with a list of things freshmen could do for fun on the cheap. One suggestion was hopping a random bus line and just riding it to the end of the line and back. “It’s like going to the circus at a fraction of the price!” They were right.
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Seth G. Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 7:10 amThe public transportation system here in Florida freaks me out. Actually, any transportation system freaks me out. Especially after that bus decapitation story from Canada a year or so back…
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Waliu Mustapha Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 7:15 amI take the bus to work everyday and although I like to read my comics (DC lol), I do also like to look at everyone who is sat on the bus and also make things up about them. I look at their appearance and just base their personality on that. Bit wrong I know but it does give one a perspective in life.
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Wendy Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 7:25 amI love the way you look at the world. Sounds like you’ll have a great time. Have fun and be safe!
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Giovanni Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 7:26 amHello Allison, it has been a long time since I read your blogs… Glad to see that you are still taking time to think and reflect upon different things. having said that I`d just like to comment upon your experiences, yes it is always nice to meet and converse with new people.. we can always learn something from anybody. It is us who must be open and willing to learn to not think of our selfs as smarter or better than someone else no matter what. And to tell you the truth.. that is what I like about you… that`s the vibe I get from you and from reading what you are thinking about. Chloe ( with her pre written script and all ) can not even match Allison Mack.
Always be yourself,
C ya an other time… your fellow thinker -
Ashley T. Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 7:54 amyeah it’s amazing how if you just sit back how amazingly wonderful the world looks. You don’t see none of the bad, that rushed out in the public.
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Kim Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 7:56 amI took a bus from Sudbury ON to Toronto ON and I ended up sitting beside this guy from Finland that didn’t speak a work of English.
It was one of the best bus rides I have ever been on. The ride went by so fast because we listened to each others music and tried our best to have a conversation. You never know who you are going to meet and learn things from. -
Jesse Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 8:06 amHi Allison
Traveling can be interesting, I never really liked long distance traveling however, I remembered when I was younger we us to take the bus or train or drove to Toronto Ontario to visit some relatives, that was crazy haa. Then we took the plane, which gave the illusion of it being an hour away haa. That was a major relief on us, now it became a perpetual thing. I think that is interesting creating stories with people you see on the bus or train. When I am commuting around the city, I don’t know, if my not saying my creeds, I’m probably imagining me playing Rambo and saving you from an alien, I’m just kidding haaaa, I don’t know. I hope those two guys behind you were thinking about a model based on human emotion and not a quant model, I don’t think it works anymore, numbers or inflated or skewed or manipulated in some way. I guess things have to work themselves out to reach that bottom. I kind of lost interest in my finance degree didn’t know things were like this. Allison I hope the dinner turned out well. ummm
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Brittany Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 8:14 amHey Allison! I also adore making up stories of other people, like who they are and what they do for a living. Awesome post! I hope you enjoy that great dinner and have loads of fun with your friends.
Much love & support,
BrittanyXOXOXO -
Jeannette Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 8:14 amsabes, me gustaria disfrutar de un viaje en bus contigo y hablar de algunas experiencias en el camino… seria divertido. Bendiciones.
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Medina Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 8:15 am“two men in the back are conspiracy theorists and they are heading to DC to blow up the White House…”
WHAT?!!!
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David Hayes Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 8:25 amBlow up the White House? I didn’t even know it was inflatable.
I tried to blow up a bus once. All I ended up doing was burning my lips on the tail pipe.
So, Allison, I do believe that the secret service continually searches the internet for threats against the White House, so you might not be invited to dine with the Obamas after posting this blog!
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Edmundo Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 8:31 amHi Allison
Two years ago, when I was in a relationship with a Texan girl (I’m from Monterrey in the northern part of Mexico) I had to take 11 hour bus trips to visit her every month and I can say I had plenty of time to experiment. I’m in marketing so I find excitement in study people’s behavior, look at what they do, how they react, every now and then talk to them and hear their stories. I have to say that I met some pretty interesting people and I have learned some cool and interesting stuff while “analysing” their behavior. Some times I do that in night clubs, I just stay in one side and see how people are, try to find patterns, theories.
Even though I’m little shy I love talking to people and listening to what they have to say, and I found out that it became useful to my friends cuz some of them come to me for advice (even though im not that old -26-) and that makes me feel so good. I think the best way to learn about life is just asking about it.Have good day
Edmundo
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Irene Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 8:36 amI’ve only taken one many years ago I can’t remember when. The only thing I do remember though is how it made me feel; I sat in the middle- not by choice as it was packed. You could smell every one and see everyones personal opinions written on their faces. I just remember feeling sad for those being judged for smelling & dressed bad; and feeling mad toward those that judged. I never got on another bus after that. It was hard.
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CM Houghton Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 8:51 amAfter I got married, my husband and I both worked on a touring musical. At the end of the tour, we took the money for our return airfare the producers gave us and used it to buy a train ticket. We took a train from NYC to Oakland to get back home and it was a wonderful experience. We got a sleeper cabin and it was like part two of our honeymoon, it was fun and romantic. I love trains.
I”m glad you had a good time.
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Bruce G Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:04 amGreat Post!
Yeh diversity in people is often on your doorstep, one doesn’t have to travel the world to find exuberant human beings.Here in England, late night trains back from London can bring the most entertaining people with them.
Once, some mates and I were coming back from a gig and this guy who’d clearly had a few to drink just started recited these lines from a film and soon his mate joined in and they both became really animated a put on a show for a whole carriage which was pretty hilarious.
It turned out that they live in the same town as us and we’re now good mates haha.
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Kris Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:17 amOK, two more things to do that are even MORE fun than listening to random people’s conversations on the bus:
1. Put headphones on and people watch. Make up silly, ridiculous dialogue in your head that goes along with their gestures and facial expressions. I get myself into soooo many giggle fits doing this.
2. When you meet someone on a bus (or anywhere else) and strike up a conversation, make up a whole bunch of stuff because chances are that you’ll never see that person again. It’s great improvisational acting practice
That might be a dangerous hobby for you, though, because you’re an actress and might not want to end up on the cover of a tabloid because you told some stranger a weird story that’s not true.
I have an orange Las Vegas County Jail souvenier t-shirt, and people ask me ALL the time if I was really in jail there. I always say yes, and make up a different story every time. It’s just me stretching my imagination and seeing how much BS people will believe. Maybe I shouldn’t, but it’s really entertaining
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Jennifer Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:20 amI’ve never taken the bus. My mom’s uncle worked for our Transpo bus company for years and I’ve heard all kinds of stories about the different and yet very interesting passengers that he had come in contact with.
I tend to make up stories of other people while sitting in a crowded DMV. Nothing better to do with 3-4 hours of your time.
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Steven Kirk Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:20 amRight you are!
Depending on your mood, you can either pop in the ear buds and tune it all out or you can dive right in to that little societal microcosm and enjoy!
As a writer and actor, I love those together/alone situations. It’s a great exercise in character study and storytelling.
Like the movie said: “There are eight million stories in the naked city”.
When you’re on a bus like that, you’re surrounded by those stories…minus the “naked” if you’re lucky…
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Aziza Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:20 amMan, my bus rides suck- lol.
Have a great day Allison!
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Lisaleegem Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:35 amThat was quite funny!
thanks for sharing!!! -
MarilyneL Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:49 amHahahah
I so do the same thing! Imagine the story of the people. When I go to Montreal, which is quite rare, in the subway, that’s an amazing thing to notice, how people behave too.
Just the series Lost reminds me all the time that we may in a matter of hours, depend and cooperate with complete strangers havinfg no idea about their lifestyle or background.Have a great time in Seattle hehe
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Fashly Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:56 amHi Allison!
You are absolutely right about all this. Meeting new people is really such a great inspiration! There are millions people in this world, and each of them is really unique and his life story is unique as well. And you can only guess, who is this woman, sitting in front of you in the bus, for example, or why did that man put his hand in the pocket… Maybe he had a gun?! And these are only guesses… But just these guesses inspire you most of all. So the conclusion is: we should go by bus just more often for inspiration!! =))
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Netra Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:59 amYeah, well I must not have such a charmed exsistance…I have a bus ride story for ya…..I was 17 and going to the store to purchase my prom dress…on the way home three construction workers board the bus. I was sitting all the way in the back, because when in high school that was the cool spot!!! Well one of the men took a liking to me…his name was Dell…..he harrassed me the entire trip, and then proceeded to sit next to me and put his arm around me and started trying to lick my ear!!!! I was mortified!!!! So I just jumped up and rang the bell to get off of the bus…….an entire city away from my house…and I was broke!!! I ended up calling my best friend and she came to pick me up. But yeah, I don’t ride the bus anymore!!! But there was always this woman that rode the public bus in my home town, and she would wear all of her jewlery, I mean pounds of it…and her makeup was as thick as Spike Lee’s glasses….with her blush creating perfect Miss Piggy like circles on her cheeks….she ALWAYS had a novel to read….and it was ALWAYS upside down!!! LoL…..she was always a hoot to see!!!
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Lori Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 10:23 amIsn’t it the best when you meet the most fascinating people in the most diverse places?
It’s gotta make you wonder if these people were meant to be placed into our lives, to make us wonder and push us to the edge of exploration. I love doing that with people…gazing at a stranger, look at their actions (like said lady on the crescent pillow) and make up a story of their life and how they got to where they are when they grace our presence with their very being.
I don’t know about you Allison, but it makes me wonder if I’m ever that thought on people’s minds…if people make up their own little stories about me and how i’ve danced into their lives, even in passing. Coolest part is, we just keep dancing on through.
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Silvia Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 10:24 amHi Allison,
Wow, I think I love quite the opposite. I love travelling in buses, trains, plains etc., but I prefer to have my peace and to watch out of the window. However, I have to admit that other people in public transportation can be quite funny…
xo
Silvia -
Joe in Lehi Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 11:12 am“you have a whole whack of people who would never choose to sit together, jammed into a box on wheels for any number of hours.”
You think that is exciting, try cramming 150 guys in to a submarine for six months at a time!
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josue serrano Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 11:16 amgracias por compartir tus experiencias, e igual que tu pienso que viajar en bus es una experiencia excitante y se puede conocer a muchas personas
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jennygirl Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 11:17 amI like to make up little stories about the parents in my classroom who seemingly are not following through, or acting as if their child’s education is not a major concern. I can make up a story where they require my sympathy and understanding, and then I’m more willing to go the extra mile. Easier on my health than the occassional sad truth, but I prefer it this way.
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jennygirl Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 11:18 amJust be safe on the bus!!
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Lydia Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 11:25 amI used to be afraid of people, not feel comfortable being around lots of people but, now I find it easier to start a conversation and I feel more at ease too.
Enjoy your dinner with the girls!:-)
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Jade Ruby Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 11:28 amI remember a couple of times the residents of the apartment complex I used to live in went to Casino Niagara. There were other groups at different pick-up stops. The first time we went, they saw that I packed myself some sandwiches and soda. One lady loudly exclaims, “Heeey! That guy brought sandwiches!” On the subsequent trips, many people brought lunches instead of buying food at our rest stops. lol
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Dana Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 11:38 amEver wonder what story those other people might make up about you? It’s an interesting thing to think about because it forces you to look at yourself from an outside perspective. There’s the person you believe yourself to be…and then there’s the image you give off. How closely do they match. Would someone else’s story about you be the same one you would tell about yourself?
This idea of what other story someone might write for you makes me think a lot about the difference between one’s real self and one’s ideal self. When I look at myself, I know I have the tendency to see the person I want to be, not necessarily the person I am. While I am looking at rest of world in techi-color, I often view myself through rose-colored glasses. To switch perspective, to imagine the story someone might tell about me seems like an interesting way to uncover my real self. Because until I know who I am right in this moment, it’s really hard to try and become someone else. Without understanding you can’t have change.
So I know this seems to be quite the rambling post, but it definitely got me thinking. Next up on my list of things to ponder… is it always possible to become one’s ideal self? I know what I think… anyone else have an opinion???
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william Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 11:43 amThats some crazy ideas allison! I daydream alot and think up stories like that and trips are a great time to do it, but yeah, the white house?! gald to here your having fun, read tomorrow+forever.
william -
Sally Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 12:08 pmHeeHee. Me and my Dad used to people watch all of the time. My dad told me all of these stories that could be possibly get from watching people. I watch people now and observe them wondering what their lifes are like. So it’s refreshing that there are other people who do the same thing.
I really love to ride the bus. My family and friends think I’m crazy but I like meeting new and intersting people. It’s so cool when you can meet a complete stranger and just start talking to them like you would to an old friend. It’s very neat.
So keep it up Allison!
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Veronica Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 12:27 pmDang a bus ride from Vancouver to Seattle was it long? Wow it sounds like you had a fun time. Thats good most people that I know usually hate buses & would rather take like cars & stuff I like that you like taking them
.I am going to Washington (the state) in August with my family & I am in Utah so its really far away 16 hours to be exact almost a day. & we are taking a bus there & it is actually a longer ride there it will be like 19 hours. Most people would hate doing that but I am looking forward to it just because I love the openness of everything around me. & plus I hate flying I have a deep fear of flying haha
Thanks for sharing your story Allison
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Martin Pekkarinen Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 12:50 pmReading one comment I got curious about which song America is and I found clips from Letterman on youtube in which they performed said song and the Boxer as well. From 2006. Excellent stuff. Had I known about their tour I probably would’ve borrowed some money to fly over and see them. Thanks for a great site, by the way.
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Amanda N. Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 1:58 pmHaha that’s cool Allison,how you can meet people instantly and srike up the most interesting of conversations.I have never really been on a public bus or a train.But I get what you mean about creating these seperate stories about stangers.It’s so much fun to imagine that these people are spys or circus people on this journey to find their long lost brother or something of that nature.I’m glad to hear you had a fun bus trip.Hope you have a wonderful time in Seattle with your dinner and your best girlfriends.
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Mr. Nikk Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 2:35 pmI love taking the train, too. Especially the L in Chicago. It allows me time to listen to my iPod, read a book and sometimes people watch. It’s almost like it recharges my batteries.
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Hiram Doup Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 4:01 pmIt’s interesting that you’re on tv almost every week. Yet can take public transportation unrecognized!
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paul Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 4:34 pmWhen I was in college I used to take the bus between St.Louis and Boston. Thirty-six hours. Halfway into the trip, things got to be kind of hallucinatory…
I still remember approaching Pittsburgh in the wee hours of a winter morning. It was still steel country in those days, and the impressively steep country, the mines and the blast furnaces made for a truly hellish landscape. In the sparsely populated countryside, every now and then I’d see an isolated house, high up on a hill, with a kitchen light on at 4 am. I visualized some poor hardworking bastard getting up to go to work in that frozen rock-bound country, down a mine or on the pouring floor of some hellish steel mill.
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Jim H Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 4:48 pmI spent 2 days on a bus from Syracuse, NY to Yellowstone National Park in ’96 (I went there to work as a prep cook). I agree with you, it was both an amazing and strange experience all at the same time. I give you mucho respect for jumping into such a dicey journey considering your status as a celeb.
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Melissa Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 4:49 pmAllison you’re brave! lol! Do you drive? I love driving everywhere, Im a bit of a control freak, but I can see the appeal of a train or bus ride, I enjoy people watching, must be hard for a celeb to do to much of that unnoticed, but for us common folk, lol, its easy peasy!
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Ross UK Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 4:52 pmDamn, I keep an eye on the site for months then turn my back for a couple of days and the sites overflowing with posts!
A 200+ mile round trip for dinner – that’s committed! Not many of my friends would do that.
In the UK, being relatively small compared to North America, we don’t get many mammoth journeys. The upside is that you can get some really good deals. My longest trip was probably an 8-9hr round trip from London to Sheffield and back by bus, costing £1 each way… Most of my bus journeys these days, however, are on the London Night-Buses, which is the service that runs after tube (our version of the subway) and all the regular bus networks have closed for the night. Bruce mention the late night trains, but the buses are where you’ve got to watch out, you get a few characters, mostly drunk, and a few very sober thugs and muggers.
I never pay enough attention to the people around me on public transport to make up stories about them. Instead I do the very British thing of looking around randomly and as much as possible because heaven-forbid a Brit on public transport should make eye contact or speak with anyone…
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Alexandra Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 4:57 pmThats so funny u mention this.
I was traveling with two of my best friends throw Canada. And we always took the Greyhound bus. One day we went from Toronto to Ottawa and a really nice guy was sitting next to me. After a while we got into a chat. We talked about everything. Like you about “what is important to us”, “what we think about diffrent subjects” and so on (even we didn’t know eachother at all and never met before,we were talking all the time)…now I can say this guy, Phillip his name became a friend of mine. Even if we don’t live in the same country, we still write eachother from time to time. Never thought to meet someone on a bus and become friends. And the think to make up storys about people you observe…I think this can be sometimes the biggest fun. Sitting there and create a whole fictional story…now I have to say I would like to know what kind of story people would create about me…
Have great time in Seattle…and don’t get lost like I did.
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Rita Gabriela Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 4:58 pmI loved dinner with my friends… it`s really cool!!!
Enjoy very much Allison!!
Take care
xo
Rita
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Elena Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 5:21 pmOne of my college friends and I rode the bus to the transit station here in Anchorage, Alaska. We wanted to observe the different types of people. Particularly the crazy and strange individuals! It most definitely was fascinating because bus riders are a whole other culture within themselves.
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viviane Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 6:23 pmriding a bus can be nice … Maybe even a surprise! also met my best friend in a bus coming home .. is not cool!
then, take care,
kisses
Viviane – Brazil -
Killjoyroy Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 6:49 pmIt’s fun to slum it every once in awhile eh?
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taylor nikole Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 7:10 pmhaha i hope they aren’t going to blow up the white house…
thats all we need :-p
more trouble HAHHA -
Andrea Staley Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 7:24 pmHi Allison! This is my first time commenting one of your blogs, though I read them all the time. I thought this was fantastic! One of my favorite things to do is people watch and my dad and I are always sitting and making up stories about people. Plus, Seattle is amazing.
I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while about a project I’m starting called Teens Changing the World, but I wasn’t sure how to get in contact with you. I guess this is the best way.
So the organization is what it sounds (well trying to be!) The only site I have up now is a myspace. I t would be amazing if you checked it out. I’d explain what it’s about now, but I’m afraid of getting carried away and rambling. (Kinda like now) So, here’s the site: http://www.myspace.com/teenschangingworld
You are a huge inspiration to me. Just…thank you.
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arash Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 7:25 pmLast time me and my friend took a bus south of the border US Immigration stoped us and pulled both of us out for a body search. Two hours later we realized the bus had left without us. Now that I think I remember there was a pretty girl sitting in front of us.
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Ana Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 8:16 pmYou know, people always look at me funny when I say I like taking the bus.
I mean, even everyday bus rides are fun. I love the bus I take to University every morning. You get to see all sorts of people: funny, strange, amazing, beautiful, unusual…
A friend of mine always says: “Riding a bus is an anthropological experience.”
Buses give me ideas. I start wondering about pictures I could take, films I could make…
I just wish people would talk more to each other on buses. Here where I live people are kind of cold and don’t seem to like human contact at all.
I usually say this is a city where everybody comes in “one”. There’s never two of anybody. You go to the movies, you go alone. You go to the theatre, alone. You go to the mall, alone. You go to a restaurant, alone.
But hey, this is a completely different subject.
Have a great weekend.
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thomas Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 8:30 pmLaughing on the bus
Playing games with the faces
She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy I said “Be careful his bowtie is really a camera”
Simon and Garfunkel America. -
Nathaniel Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:14 pmI do remember taking a bus ride years ago from Lake Charles, LA to Houston, TX (a two hour ride). What was fascinating then and now, is that your in this box on wheels thinking, “I am here taking this ride with complete strangers, whether sitting next to, behind, in front, or accross the aisle from me, and I wonder if each of us are thinking; is this ride really worth taking with all these strangers.”
You know we were always told, “Dont ride with strangers!”
The fascinating thing is you almost always end up meeting or making a new friend!
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Nathaniel Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 9:16 pmI do remember taking a bus ride years ago from Lake Charles, LA to Houston, TX (a two hour ride). What was fascinating then and now, is that you’re in this box on wheels thinking, “I am here taking this ride with complete strangers, whether sitting next to, behind, in front, or accross the aisle from me, and I wonder if each of us are thinking; is this ride really worth taking with all these strangers.”
You know we were always told, “Dont ride with strangers!”
The fascinating thing is you almost always end up meeting or making a new friend!
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Beth Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 10:31 pmIt’s funny you should mention bus rides.
On the bus on the way home from uni today i saw this guy sneak passed the driver without paying. I was thinking did he really just get away with that. Lol.That’s the most original bus story I’ve heard in a while. Usually when I get the bus I just sit and mind my own business unless I’m with friends.
You just made bus rides sound a whole lot more interesting.
You always manage to make me smile.
I hope you had a fantastic dinner with your friends. -
BOUROUX Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 10:44 pmHi Allison
Thanks for sharing this experience.
It’s amazing, 2 strangers, a communication, a story , a scrip for a film and a new project.
It’s the life, full of surprises.
Good night. -
Robin Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 11:58 pmIt always fascinating when a group of people who normally would never cross paths are brought together for a set amount of time.
When ever we travel by plane, train or bus I am always amazed at the variety of people around, and how different we each are, and yet how similar each of us are, us humans are a funny bunch.
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Aziza Says:
May 1st, 2009 at 12:38 amAlexandra’s comment reminds me of one of your little vids- Allison Mack Driving.
That was such a cute vid.The moral of Allison’s blog- open- heartedness expands your world.
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Conduit0 Says:
May 1st, 2009 at 12:50 amSome buses are better than others, though. It depends upon the neighborhood. Some are very nice, like the one I use to commute, as it takes a nice ride along the lake I live nearby. Other buses in other neighborhoods (that I no longer live in) are as scary as their neighborhoods. You could be a grown-up tough guy like me yet find yourself looking over your shoulder periodically. Especially when you get off the bus at a poorly lit stop. Not everyone’s as tall and strong as Mr. Welling, and it’s not cool to be outnumbered after dark when you look more like Samwise than Superman. Even the University District in Seattle has been getting bad press about people being assaulted by thugs at random lately, which is a real shame. Especially since buses help keep us drunks from driving! The coolness of the bus depends upon the local environment.
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Lorraine Says:
May 1st, 2009 at 3:34 amI also make up stories to help pass the time too and if I decide to make a scenario into a story, I’d hastily tabbed it to the note function of my fone.
About bus rides, I had such experience traveling from NJ to Chicago by Greyhound. My parents were with me for the long trip. Dad, who knew I was caught in that insecure phase, suggested that this was best platform to find my confidence. Lolz. So, I gathered my guts and sat beside a friendly girl who I found out to be from Sweden. For the duration of the trip, we shared stories of home, our schools, and for how long we were staying in Chicago then we swapped e-mail addresses. The long trip became an enjoyable time. We stayed in touch for a couple of years but as always, other stuffs cropped up and we lost touched. It was just this year through Facebook, that she ‘found’ me and we started to trade little stories again. The bus ride was an unforgettable time. -
The Friday Philosopher! Says:
May 1st, 2009 at 3:50 amIt all sounds nice!
People don’t do that over here any more. Like Ross said, the only thing we have to entertain ourselves on public transport is the fear of being stabbed!
I try to avoid it as much as I can these days! Though to be honest, you’re just as likely to get stabbed whilst walking.
Friday
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Magie Says:
May 1st, 2009 at 11:15 amAhh the bus, I take it to get home every break during the school year and it never fails to entertain me to some end. I just love to kind of look at the people around me and try to imagine their stories and where they are going and where they came from. It’s the ability to run into so many different people and be apart of a moment in their life and them in yours that is really freakin awesome.
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Jonathan Says:
May 1st, 2009 at 9:28 pmBus rides are not really for me. I like to drive instead. A long drive from Texas to California or better yet to Florida. I dig the beach. Drive along the coast and see all the Ocean. Ever done that?
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Karen Says:
May 5th, 2009 at 11:22 amI know! I’ve met several fascinating people on long bus/train/plane rides. One of the best was a professor. We talked about everything from vegetarianism to politics. She was the person who introduced me to vegan brownies. Yummy!
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Soniclore Says:
May 6th, 2009 at 8:47 pmBuses are fun. Yay, the bus!
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TJ Says:
May 10th, 2009 at 6:16 amHad experienced a two six-hour bus ride when I went to Sagada in the Philippines. It was exhausting, but God has put all the magnificent view everywhere. Commuters are interesting too expecially when they speak a different dialect. Makes you wonder what they’re talking about.
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SERGIO Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 1:17 pmSaludos mi querida Allison
Esa experiencia que tuviste estubo genial , pero dejame contarte que en la mayoria de ocaciones el viage en bus es muy tedioso debido a que normalmente van exedidos en su capacidad y viajar en las gradas o apretado en rutas urbanas es totalmente desagradable,,.. aunque por el contrario realizar viajes como dices, en rutas largas es una experiencia increible en especial si el viaje incluye paradas en distintos lugares para conocer sitios hermosos… -
poetic dissonance Says:
August 9th, 2009 at 2:03 ammyspace.com/abidethefall
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Natalie Says:
August 10th, 2009 at 11:53 amI love making up stories about people. It is so funny yo people watch and make up stories about them and their life. lol!
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WhoisWorthyToAknowledge Says:
December 12th, 2009 at 4:13 amhahaha u like to make stuff up too eh
“maybe the two men in the back are conspiracy theorists and they are heading to DC to blow up the White House”
lol i do that too, love being creative/imaginative like that.
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