41 Comments
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Thomas D’Arcy O’Donnell's avatar

.. Route 66 ! 🦎🏴‍☠️🚍

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Linda Brown's avatar

Another great piece of those we meet on the bus ride of life, literally.

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Jim J Wilsky's avatar

Love this series you write Sharron. People. Who are they, where are they going, what's their story? Endless fuel for writing. Thanks for sharing. - Jim

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks, Jim. A writer scarcely needs to invent characters. They are out there waiting to capture us.

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James Ron's avatar

I always enjoy the ride and the colorful characters of Santa Cruz. I bet SC is crowded these days with folks escaping this run of excessive inland heat.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Exactly so, James Ron. Santa Cruz is bumper-to-bumper, shoulder to shoulder. Restaurants jammed. The beach has so many umbrellas you can not see the sand. One wonders where they are putting their cars. I can't blame them. Supposed to be 100˚ today in Santa Clara Valley. Anyway. it sure helps out our economy over here on the coast.

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Wade Terry's avatar

What a keen observer….. and commentator.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks Wade. I imagine the buses in other towns have similar stories.

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Feasts and Fables's avatar

Your powers of observation are superb, Sharron. I’d read a book of these!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Wow! Thank you, Barrie.

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Richard Blaisdell's avatar

Expressions, expletives, emotive gestures. Stars all in their own individual ways; swept into the streets, carried by buses and kissed by the storms captured by your conceived eyes that see the waves toss the heat of day aside. Sandals scorch the sands. Rhythms rhyme with time. Your words send me movement and energy to get through another day. Encouragement all from a ride on the bus that passes by.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thank you, Richard

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

Another slice of life on the bus. You see, in individual stories, while others only glance at the cover. I love these people! Thanks for taking us with you on the bus.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Relying on bus travel is challenging, but the people are fascinating. Thanks for your comment!

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Patrick's avatar

A treasure to hear about your adventures, neighbor. Fwiw I saw you at the bus stop early the other morning, as me and Dory were heading to the beach and your youthful exuberance was entirely palpable ❤️

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Awww. Sweet. Thank you. Patrick

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Janice Walton's avatar

Hi Sharron,

Just curious - do you think they continued their acquaintanceship - or did they go their separate ways?

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Oh, I have no idea, but I am partial to a happily-ever-after story...

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Beautiful, Sharron. I hope your imagined scenario for the boy and the girl comes true. We are all so different yet have so much in common. Tell me, Does this bus stop at the 7-Eleven? As you know, It's my favorite people-watching place.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

The Speedee-Mart on this route. Should do as well, right? You got your slurpee machine and the wrinkled hotdogs that have been sitting on the rollers since 10 am. The Ho-Hos and the Slim Jims. It is where the elite meet to eat and there are lots of conversations to eaves drop on, that's for sure.

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

What a sweet potential love story.

Also, my question is when I spot something, like a flag or a person's garb, or one of the many things I encounter through the day, why does that trigger a negative or even a shocked reaction? Driving through a small town and seeng it festooned in American flags and it's not the 4th of July. And I can't really put my finger on why I'm triggered.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

I don't know why that is, but I do know the symbol of the flag no longer means what it once did. It now waves from the back of pick-up trucks as a symbol of hate, bigotry and sedition. Might as well be a swastika. Pardon me. I didn't mean to say that.

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

Don't apologize. We are moving rapidly into a frightening world. Shalom Auschlander wrote about this very thing last week, how frightening the world was becoming to him. Those pickup truck flag bearers are all over the place. I've seen one here. I don't know whether he was passing through or what, but it triggers my Flag Code Karen attitude seeing the flag rippling over the exhaust pipe. Is this an organized group of people doing this or just Joe Redneck building a larger following. IDK. I told Shalom, however, that I'm seeing a lot fewer Trump flags and signs so far this year that in 2020. Then, they were all over the place as were the MAGA hats. I take heart in that. Maybe people are becoming a bit more sane or exhausted by the hate. There will always be those, however, who have to flaunt their rage.

Here's the link to Shalom's post: https://shalomauslander.substack.com/p/the-flag-of-fuck-you?publication_id=1664787&post_id=146320573&isFreemail=true&r=1gbs2n&triedRedirect=true&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks, Sue. I read Auslander every week. He is so irreverent. He makes me laugh before I cry. Regarding the flag waving haters, it seems their lack of education, their ignorance, leaves a large hole that is easiest filled with rage. No thinking involved. Much in the way zombies drool... Glad you see a glimmer of hope.

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

As long as I stay in my house and don't venture into the world too often, I can drum up a shred of hope. Not much, but there it is.

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Yael Gelardin's avatar

Always love your observations. Thanks

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thank you for reading Leaves, Yael. I appreciate your comments so much!

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T. D. Wolf's avatar

Great vignette, Sharron. What surprised me most is that the poodle didn’t go after the parrot. My little Joe is only part poodle, but there isn’t a bird in the world he doesn’t want to eat.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

He's a good boy, just following his instincts. Parrot is delicious. Tastes just like chicken..?

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adrian shuford palmer's avatar

The Metro is a terrific place for people watching. My mission is to observe and describe without judgment, without coming to conclusions about people I haven’t met. I often fail.

Me too!

For fun, I start up conversations with people who are actually just sitting there, undistracted by headphones and iPhones. Very few in number, these days. Really appreciate your views of our world.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks so much, Buzz. Glad to hear from you! I hope you are well and getting some free, fun time this summer.

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K.C. Knouse's avatar

It is always a treat to read your writing. You have a way with words. It is good for the soul to avoid judgement of others based on sensory details. By practicing non-judgement, we overcome this world and experience the world of the spirit.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Easier said than done! However, a worthy aim for sure! Thank you, KC

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K.C. Knouse's avatar

Yes, it is difficult and I often fail. I was happy to read that you try to practice non-judgement with the people you observe on the bus. You are making the attempt.

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