The Great Greyhound Adventure - Virginia

Day 1

1-18-2017

7:15 a.m.
Norfolk Greyhound Station

     I grabbed my gear and left the house at 6:00 a.m because I was afraid of missing my bus at 8:00 a.m.  I munched on two strawberry frosted Pop-tarts. Before I crossed the bridge, I spotted a huge, black wolf-dog creature with bold laser points for eyes and was on edge when I approached its block.

     It turned out to be nothing.  I suspect this wolf-dog's presence was due to the overload of sugar at such an early hour, but I'm not ruling out the possibility of it being a protective spirit.  After the bridge, I followed the curve of the road until I approached Church Street.  I checked the map last night and had a vague idea of where Monticello Avenue is, northwest of Church, but wasn't 100% sure.  I crossed Church Street, slightly cursing under my breath because I saw no street sign or any indication of my geographic location, but turned around and saw the large green sign with white lettering behind me.  Crisis averted...as I write this, I realize that I panicked for no reason, and a positive outcome will always present itself.  I proceeded to the terminal with no incident.

     With neon letters glowing, a pawn shop illuminated the way to the Greyhound bus station.  I arrived here in approximately fifty minutes; I've still got the mailman's pace.  I've been expecting some type of domestic adventure with this trip across the country to Aptos, a small city 90 minutes southeast of San Francisco, California, to see my buddy, James.  As usual whenever I travel, a premonition appears of some cataclysmic event that never occurs, which leads me to overpack.  This occasion is no exception.  I stuffed my gunmetal gray Jansport daypack with clothes and snacks, clearly in anticipation of the coming zombie apocalypse, or worse, sudden dawning that I hadn't packed my favorite white bandana.  I wonder when my worrisome spirit will rest...

(Man, I need to get tissues for my butt...)

8:00 a.m.
Leaving Norfolk Greyhound Station

     As the bus pulled out, I felt a true rush of adrenaline course through my body with a brief stop at my heart for Happy Hour where there was a quick frenzy of dance fever.  We're on the way!

(I have to get out at Richmond, VA and go to gate D by 11:30 a.m.)

11:30 a.m.
Richmond, Virginia

     Beware of
the bearded giggle monster,
     whom dwells in
the Richmond Greyhound Station.

     Dressed in a
blue hood, pj's, and slippers,
     for he throws
his Cheerios everywhere...

   One look and
he will sit right beside you
   and strike a
meaningless conversation.

   He once was
such a promising, young lad
     but, seduced
by rocks, he fell off the path.

     There he sits,
wheels of oats on the floor,
     unaware,
ignoring all of our mores.

     He chuckles
and lies down on the steel bench;
     He snores, then
pops upright and looks around.

    So restless,
the imp, in his own world, laughs
    at trav'lers
passing by, just like life had.

     Is he free,
or is he trapped, in the space
     of time lost,
the bus station in Richmond?

12:05 p.m.
Richmond, Virginia

     It turns out that I survived another one.  While we were boarding, I noticed two young ladies, one with an eight-month old, and what seemed like a huge duffel bag or rolling suitcase for each hand and foot.  I didn't want to be some creeper, so I helped the with the biggest ones.  It's crucial to assist others as it demonstrates hope in society, whether for the self or others.  We're on our way to Memphis!

(Open some of that trail mix.)

1:30 p.m.
Charlottesville, Virginia

     A lot of passengers bring plenty of bags and pieces of luggage onto Greyhound Buses...I'm sure there's a joke somewhere there about people who take Greyhound have a lot of baggage...It makes me wonder about this being the only option for travel for a silent majority of Americans.  We're all feeling the financial hurt somehow.

(Be grateful for what you've got.)

4:00 p.m.
Roanoke, Virginia

     Roanoke is a cute, little city!  I'm grateful for my experience traveling in South Korea and Peru on buses because, sometimes, there's nothing better than a rest stop.  The bus driver told us it was better to get out here for lunch/dinner because the next rest stop only had a McDonald's.  We had an hour to kill, and I know how much ground I can cover in 10 minutes, so I decided to walk around and find a bar...and find a bar I did!  An Irish country bar, not even around the block, was open.  They had a lovely Happy Hour special where shots of whiskey were $4.  Sometimes, a little nip here and there takes the edge off!

     I didn't want to be late for the next bus, so I headed back to the waiting room.  I entered and felt a wall of silence as everyone looked at me, sizing me up.  Kinda like being late as the new kid on the very first day of high school, I rushed and found a seat, any seat, where I would be inconspicuous.  It just so happened to be by the water fountain.  Inside the room, I found about twenty of my fellow riders, and we were all shifting in our seats or on our feet, antsy to get back on the road again.  I've learned that, whenever you get the chance, it's best to take a sip of water or grab a bite to eat, so I saw this liminal moment as the best opportunity for nourishment.  Looking around, I found my oasis, and also the realization that I ought to be more careful with what I wish for.

     I don't know how I did it, but I was guilty.  From my seated position, I leaned over and drank five seconds of water.  It seems like I either pushed a little too hard, or I don't what, but I had somehow managed to break the only water fountain, too.  Of course, I didn't mean to break it, and no one ever does.  However, it's what I did, and I'm owning it.

   

     There was some definite Bellagio action going on...in the middle of a waiting room...at the bus terminal.  A parabola of cold water was endlessly streaming for the world to see.  The beautiful arch of agua rose to defy gravity, but respectfully conceded to its power and sank into the fountain's drain. The best thing about this awkward scene, is that about twenty people saw me push the level, take a sip, sit down...and struggle to fix this silly water fountain.  I pushed the lever a few more times, thinking that it would engage whatever mechanism of salvation, but alas, I was foiled in my attempt to not make a scene.

(What a fascinating business my life is.)