1997

In bus driver land, back in 1997, I had a morning tripper, that left the yard at OTC and drove NIS to Cook and 3 Road, where I became a 407 Gilbert.

I’ve never liked sitting in the bus yard with all the noise and diesel fumes, so if the other coaches had cleared the track ahead of me, I’d get my pretrip done and head out early, stop just shy of the terminus, and read the paper until it was time to go.

One morning like that I couldn’t help but notice a passenger who rode my bus regularly, at that first stop, but she also was early. Being morning rush hour, there were at least two other buses she could have taken, but she just let them go by. I was merely curious at her behaviour, that is until I pulled up to the bus stop, and she suddenly jumped up, with a bug smile on her face. My curiosity quickly faded, and in its place was the knowledge that this meant trouble!

I had to take some of the responsibility for what was developing, however, and the previous days, perhaps even weeks, flashed through my mind. When she first got on she’d given me a polite hello as she passed by on her way to halfway back, to a seat on my empty bus. I started a conversation, and spoke just loud enough that she could hear me, but just quiet enough that she’d have to come sit at the front to comfortably engage.

After all, I was indeed a lonely man, even though in a kind of state of denial, neither wanting to pursue a relationship with anyone other than friendship, nor wanting to remain that way for the rest of my life.

I enjoyed chatting with her for the 6-7 blocks she rode with me, and she appears to enjoy my company also.

But here she was on that fateful morning, making sure she caught my bus in particular! Not just a friendly passenger, she was a… a what?!?

I acted all casual like, and didn’t let on that I’d noticed her scheme. I had been sufficiently back from the terminus, and had a digital sign that read NOT IN SERVICE. She would have been looking for 407 Gilbert’s…

On the morning’s that followed, it went from bad to worse for my frightened, reluctant soul! She noticed I liked to read the paper, and took cream in my coffee, and started to bring me one of each of those for me !

“Oh, I didn’t realize” would not suffice as a beginning for my extraction Speach!!!

Little did I know how bad things would yet become!

That worse case scenario happened not too long afterward. All went according to the new usual, but when I opened the door at Gilbert and Westminster Hwy, she happily informed me that she’d booked off work that morning!!! And has just come to see me!!! Well, I took it all in stride. I Didn’t let my panic show!

We carried on to the Steveston terminus where I became a “402 Vancouver” then on into down town, and then NIS back to the depot. She followed along as I put back my paddle, and out to my ‘78 Tbird beast.

And I was by this time in an attitude by now, “well, I won’t be mean, but let’s see what happens if I…”

When we got back to my little plane at the foot of Cambie, I grabbed my laundry and headed down to the laundromat on the first floor. She didn’t bolt! We then went down the road for Breakfast at Denny’s, and I only paid for mine! And lo, she yet abideth!

I had a split shift, so we went back, retrieved my laundry, and brought it back upstairs to fold it.

Then off we went to my 2nd half, on Cambie/Oak. We had lots of fun, including the finding of a little stuffed frog on a bus bench near 33rd and Cambie. Just before my bus arrived I stood her up against the marble tile of an office building at 41st and Cambie. I told her I really needed a friend, but couldn’t handle a girlfriend just now. She nodded in complete agreement. Satisfied that I’d quelled the the tempest and dampened the tide… I marched bravely on.

Truth is we’ve never been apart since that day. The scared little boy eventually ran out of reasons to run, and the sweet lady I’ve loved all these years took us both into her heart.

I love you, Cheryl!