A Sluggish Morning

This morning I can only  describe the trolley as lethargic. Even the trolley itself seemed sluggish as it chugged along. Hardly anybody got on or off but sat there in a half asleep daze looking out the window, at their feet, or in some cases the back of their eyelids. My brother was the only person I saw reading. Everybody else hardly exuded enough energy to do anything but sit there and breathe. Of course I can't blame them because I was feeling the same way. It was morning and it was not sunny.

It's still not sunny even now as I am riding the trolley home. Despite the gloom outside there is a flurry of activity on the trolley. Across from me a woman is holding a giant salvation army bag on her lap. She is wearing a tarnished gold ring on her left ring finger. There are three diamonds, or what appear to be diamonds, except one is missing leaving a gaping hole next to the big diamond in the middle. Her black hair is long and wild and her lips look swollen. She talks to her friend who is sitting next to her. As we arrive at her stop her friend motions for them to exit and she heaves her big bag up and leaves.

Transferring at old town is the same experience as always. More people seem to walking around in the trolley than usual even though there are a lot of open seats. One rather tall man is sitting down and he is wearing a piece of cloth on his head and it is tied in the back. The excess of the cloth reaches about halfway down his back. He is wearing black pajama bottoms and white basketball shoes that are splattered with blue paint. He is wearing a gray t-shirt. He is clean shaven and his skin is smooth but his eyes... There is no white in them because they are pink where it should be white. There is sadness etched in his features and he mumbles to himself and talks to whoever will listen. He nods to the man across from him who he had been talking to and he exits the trolley. It is quiet on the trolley now that he is gone and nobody is talking. I look around at all the silent people and nobody says a word.

It is my stop now so until next time,
Alana

Everybody has a story

I caught the trolley with less than a minute to spare. I seem to be doing that lately. At least the trolley wasn't early today otherwise I would have been waiting until the 9am trolley to come along and I would be late. But that didn't happen. I was on time and tired already. The people around me seemed to be just as tired. I looked around at the quiet people and it got me thinking. What is their story? Everybody has a story so what is theirs? I wondered whether some of them had even been asked before.

A man sat on the other end of the trolley car and he was holding a small child that looked very tired. The man looked outside with an upset look on his face almost like he had sacrificed something to be where he was. He only cheered up when the child woke up and pointed to the planes and airport as the trolley drove on.

An old man sat a few booths down from me. He looked around with a somewhat dazed expression on his face. Over his left eye he wore a big white bandage. As he looked around and then out the window he gripped onto his seat.

A woman sitting across the walkway from me was wearing a baggy sweatshirt with her hood up. One of her knees were bouncing and she kept her head down. When she looked up for a moment I saw that her sad eyes were red.

A young man boarded the trolley and he sat down in an empty booth. He put one foot on the bench opposite of him and put his face in his hands. He stayed like that for a moment and then rubbed his face. He ran his fingers through his really short hair and then looked out the window.

As I got off the trolley to go to class I wondered about the people I saw and what their stories were. I wondered what they were going through and what brought them on the trolley.

On my way home it was crowded as usual and I sat across from a young man and young woman. I wondered about the young woman. Her hair was dark with small streaks of color randomly placed and she was wearing light blue eyeshadow. She looked almost unhealthy skinny which I wouldn't have guessed from her face but she was wearing shorts and her legs were very thin. She talked with the guy about different things, including college classes and then she admitted that she was only 16. She said that she had tested out of high school and was taking college courses. I was surprised but I didn't want to show that I had heard her. When I transferred at Old Town I got to thinking more about people's stories. We all know so little about each other and yet the riders of the trolley share the common space on the trolley as they go to their destination. I suppose the whole idea of this entry is that you never know who you may be sitting next to on the trolley and everybody has a unique story.

Until the next ride,
Alana

Crowded

Once again the trolley was crowded when I boarded after class. It wasn't as bad as it usually is though. I saw a man with thick dreadlocks and they looked Pretty cool. A woman was sitting across from him and they struck up a conversation. At 5th avenue a woman boarded and sat in the same booth. I saw her eyes darting to his hair and then back to the ground. She did that several more times which seemed like she was just trying not to get caught looking at him. I couldn't see his face so I have no idea if he caught her or not.

I decided to ride without music. It was strange and noisy but it was interesting to hear people talking. A few people are talking loudly on their cell phones. One man was talking so loud it was hard to concentrate. The next stop announcements were also very loud. Perhaps my ears are just being sensitive. I'm afraid to talk now for fear of yelling.

When I transferred at Old Town I believe the new trolley was more crowded. Usually it's not packed with almost twice as many people. It was a strange ride, though, because it went by so quickly.

Until next time,
Alana

The Trolley at Night

When I tell people that I ride the trolley at night they are suddenly concerned for me. I always say it's fine but some don't believe me. I will say, though, that there are quite some interesting people on the trolley at night. Some people are tired and just want to go home others look like they are just riding to get out of night's chilly air. Maybe they just want to get off the unforgiving streets where the wind is funneled between the tall buildings.

On a typical Tuesday night the trolley is almost empty and quiet. Passengers nod off, listen to music, read, sit quietly to themselves or even sleep. At the transfer station people exit the trolley like zombies and slowly, dragging their feet, walk over to the trolley they are transferring to.

On a Tuesday where an event is taking place people are stuffed into the trolley with standing room only. People talk loud and drink and laugh because they are all excited and having a good time. There is an obvious difference between those going out to have fun and those just wanting to go home or are on their way to work or school. Those people are quiet and watching the party people make a fool of themselves or are just being loud.

Tonight there is no event but the trolley is not empty. People are casually sitting in booths talking to other people and laughing. It must be too early for the undead to surface. I mean it is an hour earlier than when I usually ride the trolley. Maybe the zombies have not awaken yet.

The trolley seems more jerky than normal. Perhaps it was because it was an old trolley car. There was a new car to transfer to at Old Town. It is much more smooth.

It is sad to look around the trolley at night. There are signs of much use on the ground. Across from me empty sunflower seeds are strewn about on the ground. Small papers slide into openings, corners, and walkways. There is even a piece of clear, plastic silverware broken on the ground. Plastic bottles, cans, and cups litter the ground especially under seats. It makes me sad that people would just throw their trash on the ground when there is bound to be a trash can around when they get off. One item that is always present is the crumpled newspaper that may even be torn up. So many use the trolley on a regular basis and it makes me wonder if they are part of this litter problem.

After transferring those who did have energy slowly seemed to lose it as we waited for the trolley to go. It always seems like an eternity has gone by with how long it takes to resume. At night the trolley doesn't leave and arrive nearly as much. Every thirty minutes. Don't miss it or you will watch an eternity pass by as you wait in the cold night air.

When the trolley leaves I feel the jubilation but don't see it because those around me are becoming quiet. I think they might be becoming the zombies I usually see. False alarm! With the moving of the trolley they snap out of their trance and are alive again. They are alive but tired from the day's events whatever it may have been for them. I am tired too. The gentle rocking of the trolley could easily put a person to sleep. I am lucky to have this blog or I may have fallen victim to the power of the trolley at night.

Until the next ride,
Alana

Five scenarios

Whenever I go to get on the trolley I wonder what I am going to do to pass the time. Should I observe the people, meet somebody new, look out the window, do homework, or maybe even write in one of my stories? There are so many different things to do every day. There are so many things that need to be done so how should I use the thirty minutes it takes to get to my stop?

First scenario... observation
I look around and notice a person has a thumb brace but uses that hand to walk with his cane. I can only imagine how hard that would be to do without the use of a thumb. I then look around again and see a person standing in the back of the trolley car even though there are plenty of open seats and he has been there for several stops. I wonder why he chooses to stand when he can sit. This is where I make an observation that most people will choose to sit instead of stand even if they get off a stop after they get on. Is it laziness? It could be...

Second scenario... meet somebody new
I could turn in any direction in the trolley and meet somebody new. It is probable that I have never even seen them before. I could easily take off my headphones and say hello. It's the word that starts it all. Hello, what is your story on the trolley today? I could tell the man with the cane (who, by the way, looks young to be needing a cane) that he has a nice cane and that I really like the dark wood. I could talk to the lonely looking woman with the shopping bags. I think I will say hello to the man sitting across from me wearing the scrubs. He looks tired. His name is Peter. He was very nice and pleasant to talk to. He is on his way to work from school. He wants to be a doctor so he can help people. He wants to help people everywhere and I think that is a great want.

Third scenario... looking out the window
Looking out the window is always nice. There is a lot of nature within the city landscape. Yes even in a big city like San Diego there is nature strewn about. In downtown where there are big buildings and streets and cars, birds fly through the air. They make their nests any place there is room. As the trolley leaves downtown there are more trees and plants and even more birds. As the trolley continues there is the river. Today the river is pretty on the surface. Ducks float on the top of the water like black bouys. Under the surface the pollution makes the river dirty. Random articles of clothing and other materials line the edge of the river. The items are caught in the brush and plants that grow all around. People walk and jog along the paths in exercise clothes and they swing their arms as they walk fast or jog. They don't look at the river or the flowers that grow along the path. They stay focused and look straight ahead.

Fourth scenario... homework
I read the piece Lullaby for my American literature class and think about what we had discussed in class. What did that sentence mean again? Oh yes I remember now that the main character's memories are linked to the landscape. At the end what does the freezing mean? Her husband is dying after a long life.... would that be a good thing to talk about for a paper? I think about all the options I have for my papers in my classes. My attention is drawn away by each stop of the trolley. How far has it gone? I don't want to miss my stop. when I have an idea for my paper I put my book away.

Fifth scenario... writing in a story
I take out my binder and my paper and pencil seem to fuse together as I write. With each jerk of the trolley my pencil jumps across the page. I look around for an idea. I need inspiration for a secondary character. There it is! A man who is wearing a white button down shirt and striped shorts. He is wearing white socks reaching half way up his calves and his sneakers are looking worn down. His blonde hair is messy and he has a soul patch. He can be the cool musician who has some odd quirks. As I write down the idea and start to describe him in the story another bump comes along causing my pencil to jump across the page. Only one stop away from home. Time to put my stuff away.

All the scenarios end in the same way. I will exit the trolley at my stop and walk to where I live. Everybody does something different with their time. I have observed them over the course of riding the trolley which provides much to write about and much to reflect with. One thing the trolley is especially great for is time to think. If riding the trolley, great reflection can be done about whatever is thought about. Of course such thinking is not required to ride only a ticket and perhaps a destination.

Until the next ride,
Alana

Interesting shoes

This morning was kinda lonely since my brother is sick. He didn't go to school so I was riding the trolley alone. I do that every Tuesday and Thursday do that alone isn't that bad but I forgot my music so I was bored. Everybody was quiet and reading or staring out the window not leaving me much to observe. Well the lack of material just means I will have to write about the days I didn't post.

One day this old man came onto the trolley. He seemed to have a hard time walking so I figured he would sit in one of the opened seats reserved for the handicapped and elderly. I was wrong. Instead he asked the guy sitting across from me if he could have his seat. The guy was nice enough to move but the whole thing was kind of annoying. I would understand if all the seats were full and there wasn't a place for him. I'm not saying that all the elderly must sit in those reserved spots but it was an open seat right next to the door and I saw him look at it. He didn't have to ask the guy to move and in fact it took him more steps to get to the guy's seat than the empty one. I have no idea what the point of it was. He was, however wearing the neatest shoes I have ever seen. They were called zcoil or something like that. I have a picture that I will post to show them. He was still on the trolley when I got off but he fidgeted through the whole ride.

One night coming back from class I was listening to music and I looked up for a moment and saw a woman talking to me. I took off one side of the headphones and found that she actually was addressing me. She was talking about a man that had just exited the trolley. I would share what she was saying but she was being racist. She's a young African American woman who was being racist to pretty much every race that was on the trolley. She didn't say anything rude about me but she complained about everybody else to me. I couldn't tell if she was on something or if she naturally was like that. She was nice enough to me but I was afraid to be associated with her because of all the racist comments. I was impressed by the people in that trolley car for being able to blow off her remarks. I was happy when we transferred at Old Town and she didn't sit next to me. It didn't stop her from making comments though.
Today it was a miracle! I was able to find a seat right away when I got on the trolley to go home. That almost never happens. I didn't have my ipod so I went musicless which was weird. I didn't remember how loud the trolley is, or at least can be. I sat near a woman who had a child in a stroller. The child was so loud and making all kinds of weird noises that I knew was just for fun. I typically don't mind the children on the trolley since I love kids, but that child was so loud it was hard to concentrate.
The trolley driver spoke on the intercom today and he has a nice voice. I understand why they have the intercom instead of making the driver speak but it is kinda nice to hear the voice of the person driving hundreds and thousands of people around. I mean there is a lot of trust there. The people who take public transportation are trusting that the drivers are going to drive safely and get the passengers to their destinations okay. With that said I would like to say thank you to all the trolley drivers who get people to their destinations safely :)
Until next time,
Alana

Lunatic Laughing

This morning I saw the trolley arriving as I was walking up so my brother held the door for me. I was able to get on but it was pretty full so I had to stand at first. The ride there was so uneventful I felt I would fall asleep. It seemed like there was an air of lethargy about the trolley.

When I was waiting for the trolley so I could go home, somebody was standing in my usual spot. I couldn't tell if that was a sign of what was to come haha. I once again had to stand at first which was actually a good thing because it prevented me from falling asleep. I don't know if it is just a case of the Mondays but everybody seems to be sharing the same sentiment.

There was a creepy man on the trolley and be creepy I mean he was unusual in appearance, staring at everybody as if they owed him something, but he kept to himself. He was sitting on the ground and he would occasionally rub his head as if frustrated. I think it is strange that humans are naturally curious about our fellow man but we are trained to mind our own business or to stay clear of anybody who looks different. He exited the trolley and limped off to wherever he was going.

After that I struggled to stay awake. I imagined myself falling asleep and waking up in San Ysidro. Haha that would be terrifying at first but I think I would be able to laugh about it later. Thankfully I managed to stay awake.

When I transferred I accidentally bumped into this guy, well actually he bumped into me haha. I apologized and I heard him say sorry even with my headphones on. He started laughing like I had said something very witty. I tried not to laugh at the absurdity of his laughter and I continued to get on the trolley. The guy ended up sitting nearby and I tried to figure out why he had laughed so much but I gave up since I didn't recognize him. Only he knows. Maybe my voice was loud because I was wearing my headphones. Haha I could have been yelling at him but I don't think I was. Well if I ever see him again I think I will ask if I did. He got off relatively quickly after he had boarded.

After that had happened nothing else really happened or was interesting. Maybe I was just facing the wrong direction.
Until the next ride,
Alana

A Nosey Q-Tip

I barely made the trolley this morning. While on the trolley I saw one of the things that just cracks me up. There was this older gentleman who was wearing his hat backwards. That on its own is not weird or even really that amusing but when I looked at the rest of his wardrobe I realized that he was dressed like a teenager. I can't say that I know how old he is but I dalefinitely know that he is not a teenager. I know a person can be young at heart but I think that's a bit much. I tried not to look at him since I didn't want to be rude. When we transferred he went to a bus so I didn't have to worry about staring.

When I transferred I was surprised to see that there was very few people actually transferring to the trolley. Once we got moving I saw this old woman across the aisle cleaning out her nose with a Q-tip. That is just gross and just thinking about it is making me come close to gagging so I will move on. While looking out the window I saw a guy with some awesome dreads. I have a confession to make. I have secretly wanted to get dreads for the passed couple years. I wish that he had been on the trolley so I could ask him where he got them done.

For the way home I actually found a seat when I first boarded. It was quite shocking. The woman that I had sat across from was friendly. We didn't talk since I had my head phones on but she nodded and smiled to me when I sat down. I really liked the way she did her make up. It was classy with nice colors and not over the top. She was smiling to herself as if she kept a funny but well guarded secret. A man sat down next to her and talked obnoxiously loud on his cell phone. I looked at him since I could hear him above my music and when I looked at her we both looked at each other as though we had the same thought. We both smiled and looked away to keep ourselves from laughing. The obnoxious man was wearing a backwards hat and a small tuft of hair was sticking out of the front. When I looked at it again I realized that it was alone on his head. His hat was back far enough that I could see he was almost fully bald. He got off one stop before I did. I met my parents for lunch so I got off before Old Town.

Well that was my day so I will report back after my next ride.

Alana

Blast From the Past

Like I promised here are a few days that I had not yet posted from last month.

On a Monday....

My brothers voice was pretty much dead so I didn't have much conversation on the way to school. I instead spent my time people watching. Everybody was quiet and kept to themselves like almost every day. One man was replacing the batteries in his walkie talkie while others were reading through books. Some were text book and some weren't, some people were underlining words and phrases while other people were highlighting. There was one woman with two children. She was wearing a tight white shirt and purple stretchy pants. She was not a large woman but the tight clothes did nothing for her. She really looked like perhaps she was running into financial troubles. One child was sitting next to her, asking her questions, and the other one was sitting in the seat in front of her excitedly looking out the window. As the child next to her continued to ask her questions she told him to hush and threatened to smack him if he did not hush. He was quiet until she told both children that she was getting rid of some of their toys which made them both whine and complain. She started to explain to them why but I politely tried to focus on something else since it was none of my business. I arrived at my stop in what seemed like no time at all.

On my way home a man who sat across me had nice looking brown shoes. They looked like they probably went with most of his clothes and I knew that he wore them a lot since the toes of both shoes were scuffed in different designs to that almost sand colored beige. They were nice shoes so I couldn't blame the use of them.


On a Tuesday...

This morning I barely made the trolley. I was able to pay for the ticket right before it got there which was great since I didn't want to have to wait 15 minutes for the next one to arrive. The ride was pretty uneventful but I did see a woman brave enough to put mascara on while the trolley was moving. It makes me wonder if she had ever accidentally poked herself in the eye.

When I transferred at Old Town there was a man standing about five feet away from me looking in my direction. His mouth was moving as he was talking. I thought he was talking to me but then he turned and I saw his Blue tooth. I nodded and almost laughed as I thought about how funny it would have been if I had asked him to repeat himself. I only hope that if he hadn't turned and I took off my headphones that I would have noticed he was talking on the phone or at least not to me. There was a trolley cop on the trolley who asked for tickets. I was able to get the ticket out easier this time but it may have been because I was sitting.

I was almost alone on the trolley car at one point. The emptiness surprised me but I didn't get much time to enjoy it since I had to get off.

On my way home an old tan man sat across from me and he was wearing a leather jacket, blue jeans, and brown boots. He smelled like the inside of a pumpkin when it is scooped out to make a jack-o-lantern at Halloween. There were two things that I really noticed about him. 1. he was wearing three different cross necklaces that were very different from each other and 2. his fingertips looked swollen like he had done a job for years that abused them. Based on his tan that wouldn't have surprised me.

When I transferred to Old Town a woman with the biggest pack I have ever seen got on the trolley. Any time she turned she would knock into somebody and when she turned to apologize she would hit somebody else. She continued to turn unable to stop the chain of events that was taking place. I tried really hard not to laugh at the comical situation since although she was being nice, the people being smacked probably didn't find it as amusing. She was finally able to settle down without smacking more people.

A poem...

This poem was written on a beautiful day while I was on the trolley. It has nothing to do with the trolley but since I composed it along the ride I decided that I should share. The poem was just from the other day and not quite last month.

Low, fast moving clouds swimming
In a light blue ocean called Sky.
The clouds making shadows on the ground
Where the children play and frolic
Enjoying both the sun and shade
Giggling at their fun and games.
Birds flying high in the sky, fly high
Above the low swimming clouds
And the wind sweeps through the green trees.
Cars drive down the busy streets
Filled with people in a hurry
Eager to be at their destinations.
The tall, shiny buildings stand
Defiantly over the trees
And anything standing nearby.
The sparkling deep blue water of the ocean
Laps at the shore, inviting and beautiful.
The wind makes the tall palms
Bow slightly to any walking that way.
As the cheerful children frolic
And the adults go along their way
And the wind plays in the trees
It is a beautiful day.

I hope you enjoyed the lost entries,
Alana

Dazed and Confused

This morning on the trolley after we left downtown the driver announced that there would be a ticket inspection and sure enough as soon as we stopped trolley cops were at all the doors. They came on and said good morning please get out your tickets. People didn't even have the opportunity to get off so if they didn't have a ticket then that sucks for them. My brother and I took out our passes and when I looked around I was surprised by all the people that also had passes instead of tickets. Since I was studying I wasn't able to observe much more than that.

When I was waiting for the trolley so I could go home it was very blustery outside. It was worse because that stop is a wind tunnel. It was windy but an older man had managed to find a spot where the wind barely hit him. He was standing there with a short open box and he was begging for money. He did not say anything, he just watched as people walked by not even seeing him. Although I didn't have any cash to give him I think it was a smart place for him to stand. A large number of people walk through there so there are bound to be charitable people with cash.

I boarded the trolley and on my way home I noticed that there was a large number of people in wheel chairs boarding the trolley. They were occasionally getting off but more boarded in their place. At one point four people in wheel chairs were crammed into the small area where the ramp is. It looked quite cramped and uncomfortable. I heaved a sigh of relief for them when we arrived at Old Town to transfer.

There was a shocker at Old Town. The trolley was not there when I got there! *gasp* I knew I spoke too soon in my other entry haha. I thankfully did not have to wait long for one to arrive. Once on there I saw a younger Guy do something very nice. He had managed to get on the trolley early and snagged my favorite seat. I found a different seat but an old man was not so lucky. Just as I noticed that the old man was looking for a seat the young guy got up and offered his seat to the old man. I was surprised to see it happen since I hardly ever see it happen anymore.

It took forever for the trolley to leave Old Town and at first I feared that it was going to wait for another trolley to arrive. Thankfully it left before the next trolley came.

At the next stop a man who looked dazed and confused sat next to me. I had to push myself close to the wall since he almost sat on me. His movements were slow and he smelled like stale air. He got off on the next stop. After that not very many people were getting on this car but many people were leaving. It seemed like no time at all for me to arrive home.

I leave you until next time.
Alana

The Mystery of a Bag

My morning on the trolley was uneventful but was probably because I found myself reading. I was playing catch up on my reading for my first today. On my way home from my first class I took out my head phones and the man sitting across from me smiled approvingly at them. I found him smiling at me on more than one occasion probably because I was thoroughly enjoying my music. When I transferred I happened to see a man on the trolley I had noted before in a previous entry. Now that I think about it I may still need to post it haha well when you read the other entry this will make more sense. The man was still with his bike but no video game. He appeared to be doing homework or studying. He had a rubber band around his wrist which had a key and key ring on it. It made me wonder if he frequently loses it.


On my way to my second class people were jamming themselves close together and I noticed something. Earlier my friend asked me why society is becoming so anti-social on places like the trolley. I noticed that although people we jammed close together in their quest to sit down, only people who boarded together were talking to each other. Everybody else was silent and kept to themselves. It makes me wonder what is going on in their minds to make them keep to themselves. While I waited for the trolley to arrive so I could go home I talked with one of my classmates about the interesting people a person can meet. In the middle of my thought a man approached us and said that he was raising money so he could eat before midnight. He was tall and skinny wearing shorts while it's cold out. He had a very large pack on his back that looked like it might have weighed more than him. He was also holding a small empty Ziploc bag that had a fine white powder covering all of the inside of it. I will not make a judgment of what could have possibly been the previous inhabitant of the bag because the imagination tends to weave tales. When my classmate and I told him we didn't have any cash to give him he thanked us and went on his way.

I was finally able to get on and a few stops later swomething startling happened. The trolley was going along and suddenly it lurched and was making quite a jerky motion. I looked out the window and I saw bright flashes of light coming from right above the car. Soon after the lurching started it stopped and we were able to continue and everything was fine. I have no idea what happened but it seemed to be fin after that. Then a few stops later the driver came out of his driver's box and was messing around with one of the doors. I couldn't see what he was doing exactly but I think he was adjusting something. It was very peculiar.

When I transferred I found the next trolley at the stop already and half-filled with people. I was able to find a seat right away. I always seem to get lucky when that happens and soon after I arrive I always manage to get on before it leaves. *knocks on wood* I hope to keep it that way. The trolley was very full by the time we left Old Town. There was a lot of people standing and the amount of people on the car made it noisy. I was glad to get off and arrive at home. Tomorrow I plan to post my poem and previous entries I have but have not posted.

Until tomorrow,
Alana

Little house on the prairie in the big city?

Today is one of those gorgeous days where it would be nice to sit under the shade of a tree and enjoy the gentle breeze making its way through the leaves. Of course I'm not sitting under a tree, I am on the trolley which is full just like every day.

This morning on my way to school I saw something odd. Three people, two women and one man, were walking next to the Trolley. That itself is not weird but the way they were dressed reminded me of Amish garb. The women were wearing floral print dresses so that was different but their hair was up and under a white bonnet. I can't remember what the man was wearing but it was so odd to see that in a place like San Diego. It also reminded me of little house on the prairie haha. I also rode on one of the newer trolley cars and I was surprised to find out exactly how much less a person will be bounced around.

On the way home it was packed when I first got like it always is. As soon as we get to Civic Center it seems like half of the people get off and that is when I can sit down. It was nice to sit down. When I transferred I wasn't surprised to see it there but I was surprised to see it already full. I was lucky enough to snag a seat which was unfortunately right under one of the speakers. I wrote a poem last week while I was on the trolley which I will probably post on here later. Besides the interesting people I saw this morning it was uneventful.

Until a later ride,
Alana

The Trolley Adventures

Today was somewhat uneventful but I was asked by two trolley cops for my ticket. It's very inconvenient since I have to open my book bag and find my wallet to get my student ID out. However it is extremely convenient to have the pass instead of having to buy the ticket Monday-Friday. Plus since I am a student it is cheaper.
Although the ride was uneventful I was sitting in a seat and this man forces himself in the seat so he is practically smashing me. It was not only uncomfortable but he also smelled as though he bathed in cigarettes. Not very pleasant at all. That is one of the downsides to the trolley. But I'm not really complaining since I love taking the Trolley :)

Until the next ride,
Alana

A Few Days of Adventure

As a request from my family I am obliged to write about the many things I have seen and experienced while riding the trolley.

The trolley is a wonderful mode of transportation for those who may not have a car or other means of getting places. It may not be the speediest way to get someplace but it is convenient and easy. Typically red in color it is easy to spot while out and about. On the trolley one may, and probably will, meet many interesting people and possibly have many interesting conversations. I, for one have encountered countless amounts of interesting people on their way to interesting or not so interesting places and plans.

Three days ago I found myself sitting next to two Hispanic women who were talking loudly on a cell phone that they passed between them. They seemed completely unaware of the setting around them as they were wrapped up in their own conversation. As they talked and laughed along with the person on the phone I heard a new conversation starting.
A woman sitting with two men, that I guessed were her friends, started to express her frustrations loudly to another friend on the phone. Upon another study of her and her companions I noticed red eyes and the sleepiness of their bodies. Whether those were caused from drugs or a long night only they know. The woman continued to rant about how a man was going to file for a divorce against the friend she was talking to because the friend and her boyfriend allegedly would not allow him in to collect his possessions and left him only a small back pack and a blanket. I have no idea who that group was nor did I know her friend and quite frankly none of the situation was my business. I tried not to listen but she was talking so loud that I am sure everybody on the trolley car who was not listening to music could hear the situation. It made me wonder at her lack of care for the situation being heard by others. I was tired of the drama so I turned my attention back to the sounds of the trolley and hoped she would gain sense and speak of it in a more discreet manner.The two ladies sitting next me exited the trolley at their stop and another woman got on. She picked a seat across from me and as she was about to sit down I noticed an ice cream cone with some ice cream and a spoon in it sitting in the corner. I warned her so she would not sit in it. She thanked me and asked me who it belonged to which I didn't have an answer for. She got up from her seat and said that she was going to throw it out the door. I tried not to laugh as I thought about the unsuspecting people on the other side of the door walking about and minding their own business. I was about to tell her just to leave it but thankfully for the unsuspecting people outside, the trolley had started to move and the doors would not open.She saw my book bag and started to talk about going back to school. She was an older woman who confessed that she was intimidated by computers. As we talked about computers I wondered how many others shared her feelings. Technology and computers are becoming so user friendly it is a wonder that anybody could be afraid to learn how to use it. Maybe the problem was that they never were told that it is so easy to learn now. The older woman got off at her stop and I was left to think about our conversation. Thankfully the loud woman was quietly sitting with her companions and stayed that way until the transfer at Old Town.
Everybody got out and bustled to the other trolley car that would be continuing on the same route. It was so full that it was standing room only. I was able to find a spot in front of the doors that would not open along the way. On the way to my stop few people got off and many people got on. It was so bad that at one point one shorter woman was practically standing on me. She had entered the trolley car with her daughter. The woman stood directly in front of me almost leaning on me as if I were some sort of pillar. Throughout the ride she constantly kicked my foot as if I were in the way. There was no place for me to move. All she had to do to create more room for all three of us was ask her daughter to move over a foot and then she could have stepped forward giving us room to stand. Instead she seemed content to hit me with her big black purse every time she turned her body and not even apologize. She did not beat me with it or anything of the sort but since it was on her shoulder any time she turned it would run into me. When it came time for my stop I could not get out quickly enough. I had to ask somebody to open the door for me so I would have time to get through the crowd without the trolley leaving.

Two days ago I had to ride the trolley at night and my parents were nervous about it since I am a woman and I was going to be alone. I got out of school and I walked over to the trolley stop. I had just missed the trolley I wanted to catch but when the next trolley came up I didn't wait. It was cold and rainy outside which I love but that trolley stop was like a wind tunnel so it was very windy. So I got on and when it arrived at American Plaza I got off so I could wait for the other line. The temperature seemed to drop a lot as I waited for the trolley. I didn't pay attention to how long I waited but it seemed like an eternity before the next one showed up. When it arrived I quickly hopped on and found a seat. As the trolley made its way to Old Town all was quiet on the trolley. I don't know if it was just because it was night time or if everybody just wanted to be home. At Old Town I transferred to the next trolley but they decided to reduce the trolley going that way to one car. We all waited patiently and a man came storming in. He started yelling about how he hates that they reduced it to one car. He threw himself down on an empty seat and practically threw his bags down and around himself. I had the misfortune of sitting across from the irate man. I turned my music up trying to block the man out but then I heard banging over my music and I looked up to see him banging his head against the glass as if it would help the situation. It was actually a scary situation just how angry he was. He continued to hit his bags and huff and sigh angrily until we finally started to move. I heaved a sigh of relief thinking that it would end his tirade of anger and frustration. It didn't end it but he did calm down at least somewhat. As we were moving I could smell him and it was not a pleasant smell. He continued to bang his head against the glass every so often and move his stuff as if they were uncomfortable where they were on the ground. Finally my stop came and I practically ran out of the trolley. As I walked home from the station I thought about his anger over something that was annoying only because we had to wait so long but otherwise he had found a seat right away and was able to sit comfortably. I hoped that he wouldn't cause trouble for the other passengers because he seemed liable to explode on anybody he deemed to look at him funny.

Yesterday I had a very pleasant trolley ride. Before I got on though one of the trolley cops approached me and asked me a question. I had my headphones on so I took them off, apologized, and asked what he said. Then he asked if I had my ticket. I struggled with my book bag to get it open and when I did, I grabbed my wallet and took out my ticket for him to see. He said that hoped if other people saw him checking tickets that they would go and buy tickets instead of trying to get on without one. I thought that was a good idea. He thanked me and continued on his way. On the way to Old town on the trolley my nose was accosted by a very unpleasant smell. It was the smell that we all know and makes our nose wrinkle in displeasure. It was the smell of our good buddy the skunk. It lingered in the car and I was only able to escape when I had to transfer to a new trolley. After that the ride home was pleasing.

Today on my way to school I met a man name Joe. He was a nice older gentleman who was on his way to check his mail. He asked me if I was playing a game on my iPod. What I was really doing was writing this entry. I told him that I was writing about my experience on the trolley and he liked the idea and said it would definitely make for interesting reading. I laughed and then we talked about things that we have seen on the trolley. He told me about how once on the trolley he had seen a fight break out and there was a lot of yelling. Thankfully I have never experienced that and I hope that I never will but one never knows when it comes to the trolley. Joe talked about how he had been drafted into the Army and had served in Panama. He told me about the country he had seen there and told me that he loved his experience there. It was a very interesting conversation and I hope that I do run into him again.
On my way home I was actually able to find a seat but before I even got on, these two women forced their way on in front of me and ran to an empty section. I was pleased with the seat I found though so I won't issue any complaints there. As I looked around I saw that anybody who wasn't joyously talking to somebody else looked glum and perhaps even a little lethargic. It's amazing how so many people can ride the trolley and still not seem to care about their fellow man around them. I have seen many people come on the trolley that are elderly or disabled and hardly anybody will offer their seat or offer to help them. What I want to know is what happened to courtesy? Like when an old woman is standing there why don't the young men offer their seat anymore? Even if she declines their offer, it is still the polite thing to do. It all comes back to caring about one's fellow man.
I think that the reason a lot of people don't offer to help each other out any more is because as a society we have learned not to trust strangers. Maybe we are afraid that if we offer to help they might not have really needed it or we will be taken advantage of. Nobody likes to feel trod on and it's sad that when we reach out to help out somebody that sometimes it is a lie. Those people who lie ruin many people's trust in others. I talk only about the little everyday help not major crisis, but I digress. The rest of my ride was quiet. The only thing I saw that was amusing was a man that had a bike with him. He had very long brown hair and a beard. He didn't appear to have a helmet. The way he sat suggested that he was very shy and that he often kept to himself. That itself was not amusing but what he had to occupy himself was what amused me. In his hands he held a blue Nintendo DS. I smiled when I saw it and I was tempted to ask him what game he was so wrapped up in but I was afraid I would startle him. What amused me about the situation was that be appeared to be older than me. I don't mean to say that older people don't play video games but I just hardly ever see it in public. Aside from that my ride home was uneventful.

There is a couple days worth of adventures on the trolley. I hope to come on every day that I ride the trolley with new adventures and observations I come across. Until the next ride,
Alana