Retrospect
Jul. 16th, 2019 03:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stoutfellowA less-than-pleasant thing happened to me on Friday. It wasn't a big deal, and I wasn't going to talk about it - but something today changed my mind.
I was waiting at the bus stop on campus, ready to go home. There was a bus standing in front of the stop; it wasn't mine, so I was ignoring it. The bus I wanted appeared, and crept up to the stop. At this point, a conflict of expectations occurred. The driver expected me to make eye contact, or otherwise make it clear that I wanted her to stop. Me? I expected her to *stop*. The stop wasn't giving much shade, but I didn't want to leave it until I could make the fast dash onto the bus. Neither of our expectations were met; the event culminated in my chasing her about half a block before she finally stopped and let me board. (Need I mention the temperature?) She tried to justify herself; I was rather annoyed, but chose not to argue. I mean, she *did* stop...
Today, again, I was waiting at the stop. The #19 - not the bus I wanted - pulled up, and the driver opened the door. I shook my head, to convey that I didn't want to board. He said, "No, I want to *tell* you something!" I approached, and he said, "I saw you last week. Man, you can *run*!" He went on to explain that he had called the other driver, letting her know I was chasing. I thanked him; he shook his head in bemusement and said, "You done good!"
(To be honest, I suspect his wonder was only at seeing a 60-plus-year-old fat man racing half a block in 90F weather. But my leg muscles are probably the most fit part of my body...)
I was waiting at the bus stop on campus, ready to go home. There was a bus standing in front of the stop; it wasn't mine, so I was ignoring it. The bus I wanted appeared, and crept up to the stop. At this point, a conflict of expectations occurred. The driver expected me to make eye contact, or otherwise make it clear that I wanted her to stop. Me? I expected her to *stop*. The stop wasn't giving much shade, but I didn't want to leave it until I could make the fast dash onto the bus. Neither of our expectations were met; the event culminated in my chasing her about half a block before she finally stopped and let me board. (Need I mention the temperature?) She tried to justify herself; I was rather annoyed, but chose not to argue. I mean, she *did* stop...
Today, again, I was waiting at the stop. The #19 - not the bus I wanted - pulled up, and the driver opened the door. I shook my head, to convey that I didn't want to board. He said, "No, I want to *tell* you something!" I approached, and he said, "I saw you last week. Man, you can *run*!" He went on to explain that he had called the other driver, letting her know I was chasing. I thanked him; he shook his head in bemusement and said, "You done good!"
(To be honest, I suspect his wonder was only at seeing a 60-plus-year-old fat man racing half a block in 90F weather. But my leg muscles are probably the most fit part of my body...)
