Bus Life

He got on the bus this morning and promptly sat down next to a lady. She's been riding for the past few weeks. Him, I've seen around for a couple years. They spoke together for the entire bus ride. At least, they spoke together the entire time I was awake.

This is the way it has proceeded in the past:

• He will engage in conversation with his seat mate for a while, several days, anyway.
• He will begin sitting with her on the trip home, too. Talking.
• Eventually, he will begin getting off at her bus stop.
• They will then sit closely together.
• There will be bus-time hugging, whispering and giggles.
• After about three weeks he will start taking busses at a different time than she does.
• I won't see him for a space of several months.
• She won't be so smiley.

I've witnessed this process several times now. From him and another guy.

For the past twelve years, I've been riding the bus. At this point, I am a solitary traveler. I shower regularly. I do use deodorant. I pile my brief case and packages on my lap. I smile.

Well, a co-worker/co-bus rider told me the other day that he noticed I'd been scowling. He thought I was mad at him.

Nah.

Generally, when I have a serious look on my face, I'm contemplating the silly things that I've done recently, figuring what I should do to avoid repeating the idiocy. Thankfully, the Lord is patient and forgiving.

Last year I sat to have a picture of my aura taken. The aura guy had me close my eyes and visit a safe, peaceful place. We walked around Nauvoo for a while, until I was quite relaxed. He told me, when I was ready, to open my eyes. I opened my eyes with a relaxed smile on my face and he took my picture.

The picture of my aura was interesting, but the thing that it illustrated best to me is: I don't smile when I'm relaxed. I wasn't actually scowling, but my face muscles were nowhere near a smile configuration.

My natural facial composure is much more serious than I feel it should be. Since then, I've made it a point to do my best, everyday, to greet people with a grin. They don't quite know how to figure me out.

That's okay, because I haven't finished figuring me out, either.