Overheard on the 57 bus...

2 older ladies, sitting across from me on the bus this morning...


1. On debating whether to move from Oakland...to Texas.
LADY 1: "I don't know, I've been to Houston and it ain't so bad. I mean, there must be 5 million people or something that live there. How many people you suppose live in Texas? If there are 5 million people in Houston, there must be a WHOLE lot in Texas. That state is huge!"


LADY 2: "Well yes, but have you ever BEEN outside of Houston. Let me tell you. That place is like the Twilight Zone. Just like the Twilight Zone. It is big and scary. I can't live there."


LADY 1: "Well, and my mother tells me that the food prices are out of control. So, you know, the housing prices might be better, but y'all won't be able to EAT."


LADY 2: "I don't know. My mind isn't made up yet. It ain't like I'm staying here for my grandkids because I don't have any. But, I have to stay here for my nieces and nephews because SOMEONE has to teach them THE rules and THE manners. And you know it ain't going to be their mother."


LADY 1: "And it still is Texas."


2. On people texting and driving (as person swerves around bus and nearly hits us):
LADY 1: "Did you see that? I swear, there are so many people driving who shouldn't be driving. They be texting, and talking on their cell phone, their heads in their laps, driving like they are crazy! They all know it's illegal and they. don't. care."


LADY 2: "Well, they probably are crazy. You know there are a lot of crazy people here."


LADY 1: "That's true. I don't know how any of them know where they're going when they aren't even looking in front of them."


LADY 2: "You know what they should do? They should make them ride a horse. Because then, even when they're texting, their horse know where they be going."


LADY 1: "That's right, when you get caught, they take away your car and you have to buy a horse."


3. On the "new" ACTransit buses in Oakland vs. the "old" ACTransit buses:
LADY 1: "I loved them old seats in the old buses. You know, those fiberglass seats? They were so much better than these seats."


LADY 2: "Oh, I know what you're talking about, they had a little cushion?"


LADY 1: "No, no, no. No cushion, just fiberglass. But they were molded real well. They were so much more comfortable, especially for thicker riders. Oh, you know, my friend told me the other day that I have lost inches around my waist. You think it's from climbing those stairs? Well, anyway, I liked those old seats better."


LADY 2: "Mm hmm..."


LADY 1: "I know, I'm always looking backwards. But that's the other problem about these buses. I call them the baby buses because they seem like the only people they be made for are people with babies and strollers. All this open space in here. Must be for strollers. And then they have the seats facing each other. Who wants to be looking backwards on the bus. If I'm going north, I want to be looking north. I just don't understand who thought these buses were a good plan. BA-BY.BUS-ES. That's right."


There are those rare, rare days where I totally love riding the bus. And today was one of them.