With the cold weather here in Minnesota this week, my car has decided it will not be bothered to move. Its cold, and the car thinks it knows what's best for me.
So Monday, I call my employer to let them know, my car will not start, I have no way of getting to work, I am trying my best to get the vehicle going. I was graciously told, not to worry about it, "Stay home, I'll see you Wednesday". I felt awful, to say the least. I work with a private family, so if they told me to stay home, I knew they meant it, but I still felt like I was letting them down. And because my hormones have been so out of whack, I cried for a while. It was not my morning.
Even though I was told to stay home, that day, I had things to get done through out the week, so I needed my car. But, after much time trying to get the engine to turn over, calling my husband, who is in North Dakota this week for work, calling my father, who has no skills in mechanics, and having my neighbor and friend spend at least 45 minutes in the cold looking at it, bless His heart, I gave up. I might have cried again(stupid hormones).
Once I was finished crying, again. I sat down, and began thinking of ways to get from point A to point B in the next week. My week was busy, between work, volunteering, board meetings, and doctor appointments, I was scrambling to figure anything out. I finally settled on the Bus! I was going to figure out the bus system and use it, for the first time in my life. At 21 years old, even with growing up in the Minneapolis area, I have never had to use the bus system. It was a very nerve wrecking idea, to say the least. I might as well have said I'm traveling to Antarctica for fun.
I'm not gonna lie, it took me a good few hours to figure out all the bus connections I needed, how to map out my way to work, figure out the fastest route for me to take, Time it so I didn't get there too late or too early, yet give myself time in case something happens, and then write everything down. By the time I was done, I knew the routes to work, church, and my doctors office, and home again from each. 6 pages of detailed information filled my notebook. Despite that I couldn't have felt more unprepared.
Tuesday, I got a ride to and from the place I volunteer, which was nice. So everything went great.
This morning, Wednesday, I woke up at 6am. 3 hours earlier than I normally have to. I was a little cranky as I fed my pets, got dressed, grabbed breakfast, and put all of my stuff in a backpack. I stepped outside at 7am, with $10 in quarters(I had no idea how much the bus system cost, to say the least), and my notebook. I tried to start my car, just in case, but it still wouldn't move. So I walked the three blocks to the first bus stop. I almost missed the first bus, I was saved by a red light!!
I nervously got on, and began inserting my quarters, $2.25, and took a seat. I don't doubt I looked like a lost dog on the bus. I kept looking at my notebook, and then at the stops we were at, I was so worried I'd miss my stop, and be unable to figure out how to get back. Thankfully I made it through my first bus ride just fine. I got dropped off at the light rail platform, and decided to purchase a day pass so I could reserve my quarters. The light rail was running 3 minutes late, which made me fret, because
"What if it caused me to miss a bus later?"
OR
"What if the time change meant I was in the wrong place?
I got so nervous I actually asked someone if the Light rail was the right light rail to the MOA.... I was born and raised here, honestly! I did know the answer, I just wanted to hear someone else say it. She probably thought I was crazy, but she sweetly informed me I was in the right place.
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I got on the light rail, I got to the MOA, no problems. They were running a few minutes behind, but my notebook told me I still had 5 minutes before my next bus left, so I was ok. I then ran around the huge bus bay, and found the space where my next bus should have been.... turns out they were running behind too... by another 5 minutes. Those 5 minutes feel like forever when you are cold. Anyways. The bus came, I got on, I show her my newly purchased day pass, she scans it, and tells me it's expired. I look at her dumbly, my heart might have stopped, I was just begining to feel confident with the bus system at this point. I look at the ticket, She points to the coin machine, and I slowly begin putting in quarters while looking at my ticket. before I put the full amount in, I reshow her the ticket, pointing out the purchase date and expiration date. She shrugs her shoulders, says sorry, can't give me my quarters back, and lets me on. I sat down as quickly as I could not wanting to run into another problem.
By the time we reach my next bus stop, It's 8:30am. My next bus comes at 8:43am. There are two huge buildings, and I have no idea where I'm supposed to stand. I begin looking for Bay B, but there are B's on both buildings. I finally ask a gentleman if he knows where I should be. He politely informs me, he actually doesn't know, he was just waiting for his co-workers to pick him up to carpool to work, but if he had to guess, he would say the other building. So I run across the road, and wait in front of the B door. When 8:44 comes and I don't see my bus, I got anxious. This bus only comes once an hour, so I could not miss it. I walk over to another group of people who just entered the building and ask them, just to verify where I should be. They tell me "You just missed it" As I look over and see a bus pulling away from the other station.
I thank them, and walk over to the other station. I pull out a map to see how far from work I am(I was 4 miles). I had an hour to get there. I can't wait for the next bus, After that bus dropped me off I would still have a 20 minute walk, so I decided I was going to put my hood on, tighten my jacket around me, and hike the rest of the way.
The gentleman who I had asked for help from earlier, gives me a confused look, as I pass him headed toward the doors. He of course thought I was waiting for a bus. I let him know, that I had been on the wrong side, had missed it, and had to be at work on time. He inquired as to how far it was. I told him about 4 miles. He gave me this wide eyes look of shock, as he looked outside, and mentioned how cold it was. But I was determined to be ON TIME!! I told him, "I'm young, and as long as I keep moving, it'll keep my blood flowing, and I should stay warm." I said a quick prayer for warmth, and off I went.
I got about 5 blocks before I heard a horn behind me. It was the gentleman, and his 2 co-workers, an older gentleman and a younger gal. I walked toward the car window, and he tells me. "We're not having a pregnant lady walk 4 miles to work in the cold, and the old man agrees. Hop in and we will drop you off where ever you need to go." I didn't argue. They called their boss to let them know they would be a few minutes late because "they were dropping a pregnant lady off so she didn't have to walk" and off we went. I got to work an hour early thanks to them. And was told if I missed my bus, again, the next time, They would drive me. I thanked them, and walked into work. They were surprised to see me so early, but I explained what happened and they just laughed. It was an adventure to say the least.
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No the transit system is not all that scary, but cut me some slack, I'm hormonal, and it was my first time giving it a shot. I still prefer my car, but I will definitely feel more comfortable in the future, like on my way home tonight :P
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