A little over six months ago, I noticed a woman on the bus who reminded me very much of my dear mother who I lost 3 years ago. Her beautiful smooth skin, bright eyes and cheery smile were strikingly similar. And this woman even had the same hairstyle as my mother and her style of dress also reminded me of her. I must have stared at her for at least 10 minutes, reminiscing on how beautiful my mother was and how much I miss her. Well this woman noticed that I was staring at her and struck up a conversation. I told her how much she reminded me of my mother, which started a discussion about family, raising children and memories of loved ones.
I saw her again on the bus today, and she looked radiant and positive, as always. She asked me about my son and then, seemingly out of the blue, she gave me some motherly advice that I wanted to share. She has raised her grandson, now 28 years old, as if he where her own. She told me that she tells him daily to 'never leave home angry, because you never know if you'll return.' We were talking about how transient life can be, and she spoke from experience when she said that it 'just isn't worth it to be negative or angry at others.' Life's too short. She also stated that at this point in her life, she doesn't entertain people who don't appreciate the value of life, who aren't grateful or who complain. Again, life has more to offer.
So Ms. Maria (pronounced Myra) not only reminded me of my mother's outward beauty, but the loving advice she gave me that guides me to this day. I'm grateful to have run into her on the bus today; I was clearly where I needed to be to receive some needed motherly advice.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Once again, it has been awhile since my last post. Two reasons for my delay: life has gotten in the way, many life changes and events to adjust to, and I've been searching for a direction to take this blog. The latter reason I will elaborate on.
I started this blog to share with those not familiar with public transportation in Nashville more information, how simple it is to be car-less in a car-centered city. Then, somehow I became concerned with being a good spokesperson for MTA, feeling an obligation to present public transit in Nashville in only the most favorable light. I also felt like I needed to highlight any new or pertinent information about what's going on with public transit in Nashville. Needless to say, I've gotten a bit bored with that content, and there are other great sources for up to the minute information about what's happening in Nashville's transit world. My friends at Transit Now Nashville (TNN) do a great job at that, as does MTA via their own media outlets.
So recently I had the chance to refocus on why I started this blog in the first place. My epiphany came when talking to a MTA driver this past week. I was asking her why more people don't take advantage of riding the bus, especially on the particular route she had, there were no passengers on her bus at the time. She has been driving for MTA for quite awhile and remarked that she noticed that people in Nashville have a perception about the kind of people that ride the bus. She stated a fact that I've seen and heard several times myself: Most people in Nashville feel that only poor people or those 'down on their luck' take public transportation. I couldn't agree with her more! I've posted in the past how friends of mine are almost indignant at the fact that I would take the bus, as if somehow I am not in the category of those who would take public transportation. It was at that moment, talking to that driver that I realized the direction of this blog and what my message needs to be.
Hello Nashville: Professional, intelligent, productive citizens of our fair city chose to take public transportation and ride along with those who may have few other choices and we actually find riding the bus efficient, economical and enriching. I have numerous stories and experiences to share that will prove the previous statement to be true. Thanks for being patient while I remembered this blog's purpose. Please check back within this week to find out what folks on the bus are doing and talking about. You might be surprised who is riding the bus in Nashville.
I started this blog to share with those not familiar with public transportation in Nashville more information, how simple it is to be car-less in a car-centered city. Then, somehow I became concerned with being a good spokesperson for MTA, feeling an obligation to present public transit in Nashville in only the most favorable light. I also felt like I needed to highlight any new or pertinent information about what's going on with public transit in Nashville. Needless to say, I've gotten a bit bored with that content, and there are other great sources for up to the minute information about what's happening in Nashville's transit world. My friends at Transit Now Nashville (TNN) do a great job at that, as does MTA via their own media outlets.
So recently I had the chance to refocus on why I started this blog in the first place. My epiphany came when talking to a MTA driver this past week. I was asking her why more people don't take advantage of riding the bus, especially on the particular route she had, there were no passengers on her bus at the time. She has been driving for MTA for quite awhile and remarked that she noticed that people in Nashville have a perception about the kind of people that ride the bus. She stated a fact that I've seen and heard several times myself: Most people in Nashville feel that only poor people or those 'down on their luck' take public transportation. I couldn't agree with her more! I've posted in the past how friends of mine are almost indignant at the fact that I would take the bus, as if somehow I am not in the category of those who would take public transportation. It was at that moment, talking to that driver that I realized the direction of this blog and what my message needs to be.
Hello Nashville: Professional, intelligent, productive citizens of our fair city chose to take public transportation and ride along with those who may have few other choices and we actually find riding the bus efficient, economical and enriching. I have numerous stories and experiences to share that will prove the previous statement to be true. Thanks for being patient while I remembered this blog's purpose. Please check back within this week to find out what folks on the bus are doing and talking about. You might be surprised who is riding the bus in Nashville.
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