O O Ø O O O O
Creative Vacuum
Since I moved to my current—and permanent—address, I have taken the bus, the Mighty Route Three, to work. Ten trips a week, fifty two weeks a year, less statutory holidays, two- and then three-weeks’ annual vacation, one actual sick day and one conjured.
I used to ride early with my wife, when there was a greater chane of grabbing two contigious seats. Now that we have dissimilar Eloise-care windows, I ride a later bus, which I share with Jr.- and High-school students destined for Woodman and Wisewood, and my alma matter headed for Elboya and Western. Afternoons I join the return shift with a cadre of regulars: yuppies, burnouts, football tryouts, fat ladies and punks.
Many of us have iPods. I’m on to my second Shuffle, the first expiring through use and diurnal abuse.
I have no idea how many people I’ve ridden with, but right now I can count a seated capacity of about 45 (These buses have a disturbing variability.) Often they are full, the bus population rotating like a Stampede midway ride. It is not unusual however, for a bus to just about empty out on the ride home.
Suffice to estimate that I have shared the 3 with thousands of different people, and many of them I have observed numerous times.
I have watched riders talk, argue, swoom, whisper, giggle, swear, gossip, philosophize and mumble. I have seen them read, phone, txt, ogle, sleep glare, fume, vegetate and study. Some are agitated. Some are bored. Some are suspicious, determined, vapid.
We all have our ways of passing the time in our diesel capsule.
I’m the only one I’ve ever seen write. Ever.
Please don’t misinterpret my observation. Writing isn’t the only way to create. However, apart from the occasional productive daydream or snippy txt, writing is about the only way to create on a bus.
In the midst of all the consumption—of diesel, of news, of pop trends—why not create?
I’m not so vain as to believe I’m the only one who has something that needs writing out, but sometimes it feels a little desolate around here.
Evan Spence
July 22, 2008
OOØOOOODCCCLXXXIII