Yes! It was quite an introduction to public transformation, Bill! It has been colorful, but very calm since that first day. By the way, I thank you so much for recommending Leaves. I have four new subscribers from Bill Adler this month!
Before March 2020 I worked onsite at my job in Hollywood. Since I live on the borderline of Orange and LA counties, my driving commute would be 60 miles a day. No thank you! Instead, I chose to commute daily via train.
Most of the time it was slow, prone to outages, sketchy passengers, hotheads and pscyhopaths, homeless people who smelled like death, every imaginable annoyance you can imagine from sharing the steel tube with people from all over a 10+ million megapolis.
I would not trade those memories for anything. Those were some of my greatest people-watching moments which, as a writer, are invaluable.
My advice is to sit back and enjoy the ride, and if you feel the need to sleep, keep one eye open.
Sounds like you had a great opportunity to gather ideas for writing fiction on that train, Bartleby. It is what I plan to do on the bus. There are stories everywhere! Thanks for your comment.
Oh dear Sharron, that kind of behavior is shocking at first. This is probably not going to make you feel very good but I suspect those guys are regulars on that bus line or perhaps the bus driver would have kicked them off. I have learned from my experience that the best thing to do when people are in a state like that is to do as they say - don't look at them! Usually they are harmless if you give them space. Sit as close as you can to the bus driver in the seats for seniors. These poor people appear to be beyond help. Whether they are or not, I don't know but our politicians are very good at not budgeting enough money to give them the attention they need. And, I believe we have the resources. Very sad.
Good to know it might be a regular thing. If I can expect it, maybe it won't be so disturbing. Thank you, Nora. You know I rarely go out any more, so I think it won't be a problem.
I would like to hear Saunders' "interpretation" of this quote. I am afraid Barth is a bit over my head, like a foreign language I have never studied. ha ha ha! Send me Saunders' link if you can.
I was just reading George Saunders’s Substack page, and there was this line about the form of short stories:
“The whole idea of the ‘incremental perturbation of an unstable homeostatic system and its catastrophic restoration to a more complexified equilibrium’ has always stayed with me with regard to short stories...” You manage to do all that in VERY short stories! 😍😊
Really? Thanks! That's a good thing I guess? English is my native language and I have a masters degree but I am not sure what his means, exactly, Karen.
I think it just describes a common story arc? Like in your latest post, the bus passengers are the unstable homeostatic system, and the two guys yelling and then the female yelling, are an incremental perturbation...
And maybe your getting off the bus and walking home is the restoration to a more complexified equilibrium?! Come to think of it, I’m confused by that quote too!!! 😂🤗🤗
A fine story, Sharron! Love how you designate/ID your characters: "yellow shoes guy," "green cap guy," "purple hair woman," and that you feel as though you're "locked in a mobile psych-ward." So well written (no surprise).
The only thing that threw me was when Purple Hair Woman shouted again to the driver to "Pull over..." I thought he was already stopped, and I needed to go back to see mention of him resuming driving (which wasn't there, of course, so maybe it's about my lack of imagination and it doesn't need to be stated that he'd returned to the wheel). In any case, a really enjoyable read! Thank you for posting! Hugs!
It just felt as though it was still in the "stand-off" moment/time frame of the driver confronting the dudes when Purple Hair Woman shouted. You could leave off the "pull over..." if you feel you need to edit. But, honestly, it's probably me, as no one else seemed to have a problem with it. In any case, as I wrote, a FINE story!
I live in Chicago and ride the CTA. It won't be every day, but expect another incident or two in the future. Get that cannabis prescription. Edibles make this life a little easier.
Oh goodness me, Sharron, what a horrible experience for all of you - I'm so sorry that this happened. I'm hugely impressed by your 'major "no-turning-back" life change of selling your car and opting for public transport. 🙂 I hope your next - and all future - trips on the Metro are a huge improvement on the one which you've described here.
Whatever occurs, I will learn strategies to get by. So many have told me to just get used to it. It happens all the time, and the bus drivers are pretty much inured... thanks for your encouraging words.
I have every confidence, Sharron! 'Just get used to it' is perhaps easy to say but putting it into practice is another story - but I know you've got this. Sending hugs. xxx
I thought I'd better learn how to manage public transportation in advance-- for when I truly am not able to drive. All YOUR fault, Janice. You taught me the importance of planning ahead for my old age.
That's quite a ride! I hope your subsequent journeys were a lot more sedate.
Yes! It was quite an introduction to public transformation, Bill! It has been colorful, but very calm since that first day. By the way, I thank you so much for recommending Leaves. I have four new subscribers from Bill Adler this month!
I'm glad to hear that about the subscribers, Sharron.
Fabulous writing. What an adventure the metro bus is going to be!
Adventure is right! Next, I may actually talk to someone. Who knows? Thanks, fandf.! (What is your name, please?)
We’re Barrie and JoJo … it’s always Barrie in Notes and comments. JoJo writes at Notes from the Potager but is more in the world of Insta. 👋
Loved this!
Before March 2020 I worked onsite at my job in Hollywood. Since I live on the borderline of Orange and LA counties, my driving commute would be 60 miles a day. No thank you! Instead, I chose to commute daily via train.
Most of the time it was slow, prone to outages, sketchy passengers, hotheads and pscyhopaths, homeless people who smelled like death, every imaginable annoyance you can imagine from sharing the steel tube with people from all over a 10+ million megapolis.
I would not trade those memories for anything. Those were some of my greatest people-watching moments which, as a writer, are invaluable.
My advice is to sit back and enjoy the ride, and if you feel the need to sleep, keep one eye open.
Sounds like you had a great opportunity to gather ideas for writing fiction on that train, Bartleby. It is what I plan to do on the bus. There are stories everywhere! Thanks for your comment.
Just saw this, in case this is not a rhetorical question, am in Vermont
Beautiful state!
Oh dear Sharron, that kind of behavior is shocking at first. This is probably not going to make you feel very good but I suspect those guys are regulars on that bus line or perhaps the bus driver would have kicked them off. I have learned from my experience that the best thing to do when people are in a state like that is to do as they say - don't look at them! Usually they are harmless if you give them space. Sit as close as you can to the bus driver in the seats for seniors. These poor people appear to be beyond help. Whether they are or not, I don't know but our politicians are very good at not budgeting enough money to give them the attention they need. And, I believe we have the resources. Very sad.
Good to know it might be a regular thing. If I can expect it, maybe it won't be so disturbing. Thank you, Nora. You know I rarely go out any more, so I think it won't be a problem.
OMG. Welcome to the Santa Cruz County bus system. I've seen and heard some pretty interesting passengers over the years, but none quite like yours.
I will let you know what I discover, Julia.
Holy yikes, Sharron.
My question to green hat guy is, "how can we NOT look at you when you're making such a ginormous asshat of yourself in front of everyone?"
Yeah, I think he was a little unclear on the concept. On any concept, probably. Sad, sad, sad. I am keeping calm and carrying on.
The Barth quote is towards the end
I hope I’m doing this right!: https://open.substack.com/pub/georgesaunders/p/miscellany-from-new-orleans?r=1d54om&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Oops!! I think he was quoting from a John Barth essay! 🙈😅
I would like to hear Saunders' "interpretation" of this quote. I am afraid Barth is a bit over my head, like a foreign language I have never studied. ha ha ha! Send me Saunders' link if you can.
I think it’s just his fancier way of describing this story arc?!:
“The classic story arc definition includes five elements: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.”
Thanks, Karen! Now you're talking!
I was just reading George Saunders’s Substack page, and there was this line about the form of short stories:
“The whole idea of the ‘incremental perturbation of an unstable homeostatic system and its catastrophic restoration to a more complexified equilibrium’ has always stayed with me with regard to short stories...” You manage to do all that in VERY short stories! 😍😊
Really? Thanks! That's a good thing I guess? English is my native language and I have a masters degree but I am not sure what his means, exactly, Karen.
I think it just describes a common story arc? Like in your latest post, the bus passengers are the unstable homeostatic system, and the two guys yelling and then the female yelling, are an incremental perturbation...
And maybe your getting off the bus and walking home is the restoration to a more complexified equilibrium?! Come to think of it, I’m confused by that quote too!!! 😂🤗🤗
A fine story, Sharron! Love how you designate/ID your characters: "yellow shoes guy," "green cap guy," "purple hair woman," and that you feel as though you're "locked in a mobile psych-ward." So well written (no surprise).
The only thing that threw me was when Purple Hair Woman shouted again to the driver to "Pull over..." I thought he was already stopped, and I needed to go back to see mention of him resuming driving (which wasn't there, of course, so maybe it's about my lack of imagination and it doesn't need to be stated that he'd returned to the wheel). In any case, a really enjoyable read! Thank you for posting! Hugs!
Glad you liked it, Connie. I will go back and check for continuity. I can edit it. Thanks
It just felt as though it was still in the "stand-off" moment/time frame of the driver confronting the dudes when Purple Hair Woman shouted. You could leave off the "pull over..." if you feel you need to edit. But, honestly, it's probably me, as no one else seemed to have a problem with it. In any case, as I wrote, a FINE story!
I live in Chicago and ride the CTA. It won't be every day, but expect another incident or two in the future. Get that cannabis prescription. Edibles make this life a little easier.
Okay. Fair warning taken! Thanks, Laura. And welcome to Leaves! Glad to have you on board.
Oh goodness me, Sharron, what a horrible experience for all of you - I'm so sorry that this happened. I'm hugely impressed by your 'major "no-turning-back" life change of selling your car and opting for public transport. 🙂 I hope your next - and all future - trips on the Metro are a huge improvement on the one which you've described here.
Whatever occurs, I will learn strategies to get by. So many have told me to just get used to it. It happens all the time, and the bus drivers are pretty much inured... thanks for your encouraging words.
I have every confidence, Sharron! 'Just get used to it' is perhaps easy to say but putting it into practice is another story - but I know you've got this. Sending hugs. xxx
I haven't ridden on a public bus in years - your story proves I don't want to start.
I thought I'd better learn how to manage public transportation in advance-- for when I truly am not able to drive. All YOUR fault, Janice. You taught me the importance of planning ahead for my old age.
Yikes!
I do hope that you don't have to witness this sort of thing every time you take the bus.
I will keep you posted. And take my notebook along with me next time.