People on the Metro

This morning I caught a ride with Deanne to the Park & Ride. Kristin doesn't have to drag Clara out of the house on such mornings, and Deanne is good conversation. Some morning we have mutually-agreed-upon silence and others we chat.

Today we started talking about people on the Metro. A few years of the same bus and train, around the same time each day, and you start recognizing people. And if you're like me, you give them names. A few of my favorites:

• Really Heavy Cigarette-Smoking Lady Who Puts Her Make-Up On On The Bus
• Young Dorky Guy With A Tie Who Usually Takes The 950 Home
• Bad Eyesite Guy With An Earring
• Long Gray Hair And Bad Fake-Bake Woman
• Second Bus Man Who Smiles At Me
• Jump Suit Military Guy (Who Is In The Herndon Ward But I Don't Know His Name)
• Potty Mouth Mid-Life Lady
• And one of my all-time favorites: Smelly Car And Horse Whip Slugging Lady

Today we saw Cigarette Lady, Potty Mouth Lady, and Dorky Guy. I whispered each person's name as we walked past. I remarked to Deanne that I would love to create a photo album of all my commuting people. I could have their picture, name, and fun stories. This could be a keepsake of the last nine years of my life ... pause ... Nine years of commuting. Now that's a long time.