Thankful for Service

Last night on the bus I watched an interesting exchange between two former Marines. One had on a cap with the Marine symbol and lettering on it; he was an older white gentleman who served in the Vietnam war between 1967-1971. The other gentleman was a bit younger, a black man who served in the early eighties and recalled his time in the Marines as 'one of the better things' he had done with his life.

What captured my attention was the way they greeted each other when the younger man boarded the bus. He said, 'Semper Fi' to which the older man automatically responded,'Do or die!' As they clasped hands, it was obvious that whatever paths their separate lives had taken since their time in the Marines, they shared a brotherhood that spans time, color and age.

They went on to recount their experiences, travels and memories in the 5 to 10 minutes we all rode together, while another passenger and I listened respectfully. As the younger man exited the bus, he said to the older, 'Once a Marine...' to which the older man promptly replied, 'Always a Marine!' They again clasped hands and arms quickly. The older man then turned to me and said,'It's like a fraternity, a brotherhood.' I replied how nice it was to see people come together in peace, and we both agreed how ironic that the very thing that brought them together was their shared experiences of war.

I couldn't help but think that whether or not we agree with the politics or issues that sent both of these young men to fight for a cause that may or may not have been their own, we can be thankful for people like them. As very young men, they made a decision to serve others, and despite their difference in age and background, they have their service in common and that service still gives them hope, courage, and a brotherhood many years later. Although I will always prefer peace over war and choose to serve in other ways, I was very thankful to witness that scene and for their willingness to share it with me. And as I exited the bus, I told him so.

Private/Public Phone Conversations

When I started this blog, I wanted to share my discoveries and adventures from riding the bus. My goal was to show the bright side of public transportation, hoping that more people in Nashville would appreciate the benefits. I wanted to share only the positive, thinking the not so positive perception is what most people have already.

But I'm appreciating that it is the people that ride the bus that makes the stories, the good, bad and indifferent, not just the positive experiences. So, I'm going to be sharing more stories that I find interesting in the hopes that you will, too. I don’t want to offend, but when dealing with the public, things are not always so pleasant.

Often on the bus everyone gets the chance to hear even the most private phone conversations of less discreet riders, whether you want to or not. This morning, one woman didn't mind everyone on the bus hearing about her drug treatment program. And she also didn't mind that we overheard her re-assuring her current lover about their contraceptive choices! Finally, she told him that she couldn't go into any further detail (thank goodness!) because there were children on the bus. Even the adults on the bus were embarrassed for her and collectively said a silent 'Thank you!' when she finally ended the phone conversation. I thought that her conversation would be a great public service announcement about the dangers of drug use; hopefully, the children and adults riding this morning took note.

Otherwise, the ride in was uneventful, and I actually made it to work earlier than my co-workers who drove and got caught in traffic. But, I bet their commute wasn't as eventful as mine! Enjoy your day.

Balance

Today on my way into work, I ran into my friend who I mentioned in a post over a year ago (Sacrifices Parents Make). He came from Ethiopia and worked very hard to make sure his children received the very best education possible so they would have opportunities available to him that he didn't have. He has worked without complaint for many years, and now his children are all doing well at various universities.

This morning I saw him, and to my delight, he told me that he is now in school! He changed his work schedule to work nights so he can attend Vanderbilt University during the day. I felt like a proud parent myself! I am so excited for him, that now after making sure his children can pursue their dreams, he can now pursue his own. Behind his almond colored skin and pure white hair were bright sparkling eyes as he got on the bus with his laptop bag in one hand and his lunch bag in the other. I am so happy for him.

The lesson I learned on my very full bus today is that is never too late to pursue your goals, even when you've spent many years supporting or helping others. Take time out for yourself. Generosity is vital to a happy life,  but a very wise man once said, 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself'; the balance of those two loves is what my friend has found. I'm working toward that balance, too.