when you move to a city, you begin to adapt a mode of public existence that i will term "zoned". this is where you are out amongst hundreds of people, yet you are only focused on the most efficient path to your destination. and maybe the song in your ipod. or how you regret the coat you chose that day.
"zoned" also is a major occurrence on mass transit. and it's necessary if your face is less than 3 feet from the guy's crotch who is standing in front of you (i know, gross, inappropriate, but it just happened today! i had no idea where to look or how to avoid it!) on the packed bus. you must find a way to cope.
"zoned."
this phenomenon occurs without crotches and when the bus/train is full of people and is absolutely silent. masses of humans having no meaningful interaction.
the occurrence of "zoned" surprised me at first, but then, two days in a row, i realized that i am unknowingly participating in the phenomenon. this realization happened when i was walking to two different places and looked directly at two people i know fairly well and did not even recognize them!!!!
terrible.
but i don't know a remedy. if you are open and available to all the stimuli, the good, the bad and the ugly, i think i'd be exhausted before i even would reach class!
anyway, all that is being said to set up my joy today.
i was on the 146, heading north to my home. the bus stopped, let people in and one woman got on the bus carrying a toilet plunger in plain sight. i saw this, giggle internally and thought, "well, we all have to purchase a toilet plunger at some point." but then, the woman across the aisle caught my eye and laughed out loud! i smiled back at her and laughed too.
human interaction?!?! with a total stranger?!?!
so refreshing. especially when it was to share a laugh at the oddities of toilet plunger carrying folk on buses.
but then, i got to my apartment and realized my roommate and i had been on the same bus, gotten on at the same stop. and we had no idea.
"zoned"?
anyway, after that, i reconnected with my roots and made beer broiled sausage and potatoes. oh yum. i realize more and more that i absolutely love irish food. i think i would like to visit ireland sometime. maybe figure out my family's story or something... or, just enjoy sausages and potatoes :)
. . .
i had originally intended on putting a picture here. but, honestly, it looked like two turds on some potatoes. LOL.
this is, officially, the most inappropriate post i've posted... crotches, toilet plungers, turds... goodness. it's as if i've regressed to my camp counselor or youth ministry days :). my deepest apologies to you readers who are more conservative in values. if i have really offended you, please let me know.
. . .
cheerio!
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I think it's hard to live in the city, particularly when relying on public transportation, without slipping into the zone with regularity. I was shocked by it when I moved to the city, but now also slip into it without any thought. I had a big debate when I first started taking my i-pod with me on public transportation, as I thought that it would put a very visible barrier between me and other people, even if no words were being exchanged without the i-pod on my person. But then I thought....would people who drive their cars spend hours in the car every day each week without turning on their radios or stereos?? No way. CTA travelers need tunes, and the right to zone and clear their heads too. I could go off on many tangents, but instead will say good night. :)
ReplyDeletepreach it, sister :).
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