It’s A Bus, Not A Cruise Ship!

There are pros and cons to not having a car in New Jersey.

Pro: Along with rent and credit card bills, I don’t have to add on a car and insurance payment (New Jersey has one of highest insurance rates in the nation).

Con: After a night of shaking my derriere at a NYC club, I have to wait for the first sign of daylight before crossing the Hudson River because the first bus back to my place is at 6 a.m. Hence, this unintentionally makes me a part of the “last call for booty before the club closes” meat market.

Although by car I live a solid 15 minutes from my job, the bus just prolongs the commuting experience to an hour because I have to take two buses. The first bus, the 709, has a pretty straight-laced culture: no one blasts music, folks just pay their fare and stare blankly into space while waiting to get to their destination. I can respect that. However, the second bus, the 28--the 8:10 bus in particular—always leaves me kicking myself as to why I don’t take an earlier bus. It’s always crowded so sometimes I have to stand until the high schoolers get off, the bus driver seems to have confused the residential roads for the roads of Jamaica, and the “airs” certain folks exude, take “Grady” for example.

Grady is a short, 40 or 50-something, Caribbean man who thinks he’s a modern day Casanova Brown. He always sits slumped in his seat like he’s a 15-year-old jock disinterested in algebra. I’ve observed him flirting with women passengers (even a woman bus driver) and even giving daps to “thugs” who prefer to sit in the back of the bus. When I board buses, I make a point to put on my “b*&ch please” face to deter unwanted attention and I am certain Grady gets my point.

Honestly, I don’t give a care about Grady’s flirting or constant need for approval for his existence from the thugs (I’m sure they don’t think much of him) it’s just that Grady thinks the New Jersey Transit BUS is a Carnival CRUISE LINE. Every day, even if the bus is packed, Grady finds a way to maneuver up and down the bus making small talk and flirting--all the bus needs is music, cocktails and a body of water.

Then there’s Melford, Grady’s coworker, an older white guy who seems to have lost at love several times in his life. He’s poorly dressed, soft-spoken and is overdue for retirement. Everyday, Melford brings Grady the morning paper and sometimes coffee. I’ve even heard Grady shout from the back of the bus “Melford, you got the paper?” I shake my head in disgust and think, “Negro, what is so wrong with your pockets and hands that you overly rely on an elderly man to bring your paper and coffee?” Of course if Melford is sitting in the front of the bus, this gives Grady extra SHOWTIME giving daps and flirting along the way.

I’m elated when Grady and Melford get off the bus at a cemetery, I want to yell “Hey, Grady, there lies your dignity you egotistical son-of-a-b&^ch!

Man, I need to catch an earlier bus.

Yo, I'm in the Buildin'!

I've arrived! Time to get started...

My life sort of choatic right now: moving (again), shows (Amel Larrieux tommorow night at the Blue Note!), and wondering...wondering what the heck my next move will be! Thought I'd try my hand at this here blog thing and see where it take me...or I take it. :) I'm down to the wire with packing and will have to pull an all nighter since I procrastinated. I mean, it was just friggin' October 4! I will miss this place since it was my first "official" apartment: cozy, hardwood floors, quiet neighborhood. The only thing I won't miss are the cold ass winters! I have learned that I must be control of my own heat. I'm sure PSE&G will love me.


Well the sun is setting and my boxes and suitcases are waiting...


Stay Gold.