I don't want to get into the mundane details of my daily commute on public transportation, but I can't help it. I spend roughly 10 hours a week on the bus. In a way, I guess I've got to just get some of the experience off of my chest before I can write about other, seemingly more important, things.
This morning, I jumped off of the bus early. I realized that I could ride MAX up to PGE Park, and then take an easy ride downhill to work on 18th. In a way, this is the best way for me to get to work in the warm months. It's easy, MAX is fun to ride, the newly remodelled park is a beautiful sight in the morning, and the trip though the old neighborhood gives me a good bit of joy.
Waiting for the MAX in Pioneer Courthouse Square this morning, I heard an older gentleman talking to his wife. He was explaining how to use the ticket machine to her, in German.
When they walked by, after she understood how to purchase and punch her ticket, they smiled at me, and I brought up my courage to say, "Guten Morgen." They smiled, and he said, "You speak German, then?" I replied, "ein bisschen."
They were from Stuttgart, in the South of Germany. I told them that I was recently in Konstanz for Lars & Anne's wedding. He translated for his wife (I heard "hochzeit," and nothing else).
For some reason, meeting them for a moment--as kind as they were, and as happy to hear me speak my very poor German--made my day suddenly better.
