DREAMS ON THE LTD

I don't get a lot of time to relax during the week.

My time spent at home is divided between fitting in a quick meal, finding enough hours in a day for homework, or reeling from the stress of it all and immediately entering comatose nap mode. 

So one of my simple pleasures are my rides on the EMX. For those that don't know, the EMX is "the bus rapid transit (BRT) system designed to serve the Eugene and Springfield communities now and into the future!" according to the website.

Neat.

I only ride it about 4-6 times a week, mainly to and from one of my internships, and I never sit down. I lean my back against the bike area if no one's using it. Then I let go, literally and figuratively. I love shifting my weight between my feet so I don't fall between turns. I love the inhale and exhale of the bus as it takes the corners and the bell that rings when it approaches a stop. Most of all I like the people. Not talking to them specifically--heaven forbid small talk on public transport--but just wondering where they're coming from, who's waiting for them at home, why they bought the shoes on their feet. 

I ride the EMX during the mornings and rush hour, so there's a mix of emotion. There's a lot of sunken looks, heavy eyes, and sometimes straight up unreadable expressions, but I know that no matter how long this commute is, they might enjoy a little bit of this peace. Everyone has their own personal space and stares out the window or down at their phones, swaying to the movement of the bus. 

I only take it for like 2-3 stops max, but one day I plan on riding the whole stretch up and down 13th by myself: Eugene station to Springfield station. Sure, it might not be totally scenic, but there's something you get from that voyage that leaves you alone to your thoughts or the freedom to just space out and detach from it all. 

Try it.