I once blew three red lights to pick up a friend's girlfriend at the Greyhound bus station in Dallas.
I arrived and men were circling around her and pink camo match luggage. She had gotten next to the security guard who informed her "don't think you won't get mugged just because you are with me".
She ran into my car and screamed "go!". I drove her to the MegaBus stop in Deep Ellum, and the change of venue was optimal. For 17 extra dollars she continued her trip to Austin and swore off Greyhound for ever.
Whoa, scary. Yeah, I've sworn off Greyhound forever too. We did meet some good people, including a very sweet Southern family. But overall, it just wasn't fun. You felt like you had to be on your toes all the time.
Like the time a crazy guy started shouting at my wife in a bus station in Vegas...
The last time I rode, I saw a middle age Mexican woman coughing blood into her Kleenex. Mexican is significant here not because of racism, but because of TB prevalence.
It was pretty wild. On one trip, there was a guy sitting in front of us, casually playing with a switchblade. A woman got up from a few seats forward of him to go to the bathroom, but almost immediately threw up on everyone around her - including switch blade guy. She locked herself in the bathroom for ages, and no one could clean up till she finally reappeared. We were a bit worried about how switchblade guy might react, but luckily nothing happened.
Switchblade guy knows how to Greyhound. Make everyone keep their distance with zero subtlety. Good strategy. Never had any weapons or bodily fluids on my trips. Just unmedicated people picking fights with one another and the driver. Be sure to wear a poncho next time.
I assume you heard the story of the deranged man in Canada who decapitated someone on a Greyhound ages ago? I believe they let him out a few years ago.
Great post Steve. And I love the pictures and stories about your children.
I wanted to be a musician too but my mother wanted me to go to college and major in STEM because the prospects were better. Fortunately I loved math and science too and had the mind for it. I almost got my PhD twice but instead I became a software engineer, and support my wife and kids (also a son then a daughter) making a comfortable salary.
I’ve written and am currently recording my first song right now at 57. I’m excited about circling back later in life to also be an amateur musician. You had a link to your album. I’ll check it out.
Hi Jeff. Glad you enjoyed the post. And very cool that you’re recording your first song! I’ve written a few over the last few years, after a several-decade hiatus. It’s such a great buzz!
Probably went to Onslo rather than Wellington Boys. Me, I went to Taita Cllge, though out of school brushed cotton check was my preferred shirt too, but I didn't reach 6'.
Hilarious reading both you and the commenter Jeff. Started a band, could not find a drummer, musical differences, etc. Married a Beckett from Dublin not too far from TCD. Became and engineer but a nagging deep interest in Psychology. Like Jeff, at age 57 have taken up the guitar again - perhaps to distract myself from the current madness. High openness, low agreeableness ambivert. Pity you did not share MBTI. Had pegged you as ENTP. (As mentioned befores till writing my thesis on all that BTW and its not measuring quite the same thing as OCEAN.)
I've literally wept to a Day in the Life. I can't quite commit to a favourite song because it's too mood dependent for me, but it would have to be in the top 3. I'm actually more of a McCartney guy overall, but a Day in the Life achieves a meloncholic sublimity more profound that anything McCartney wrote -- not to discount his contribution to the middle 8!
Yeah, I know what you mean - although I can commit to a favorite song, I can’t commit to a second favorite, or a third favorite, or a fourth. After A Day in the Life, I’ve just got a bunch of songs that are in my Top 10, but unrankable. There are probably more than ten songs in that category, though…
I’m a Lennon guy overall, but McCartney’s great too. A complete genius.
I agree with you on retirement I am 72 -i opened a business a few years ago, do some consulting, serve on boards and do volunteering, mentoring. i also play a lot of pickleball
How was your experience in the unmedicated psych ward on wheels that is Greyhound?
I once blew three red lights to pick up a friend's girlfriend at the Greyhound bus station in Dallas.
I arrived and men were circling around her and pink camo match luggage. She had gotten next to the security guard who informed her "don't think you won't get mugged just because you are with me".
She ran into my car and screamed "go!". I drove her to the MegaBus stop in Deep Ellum, and the change of venue was optimal. For 17 extra dollars she continued her trip to Austin and swore off Greyhound for ever.
Whoa, scary. Yeah, I've sworn off Greyhound forever too. We did meet some good people, including a very sweet Southern family. But overall, it just wasn't fun. You felt like you had to be on your toes all the time.
Like the time a crazy guy started shouting at my wife in a bus station in Vegas...
The last time I rode, I saw a middle age Mexican woman coughing blood into her Kleenex. Mexican is significant here not because of racism, but because of TB prevalence.
Ive seen things on Greyhound. But never Amtrak. Trains are just that much more comfortable, I reckon?
It was pretty wild. On one trip, there was a guy sitting in front of us, casually playing with a switchblade. A woman got up from a few seats forward of him to go to the bathroom, but almost immediately threw up on everyone around her - including switch blade guy. She locked herself in the bathroom for ages, and no one could clean up till she finally reappeared. We were a bit worried about how switchblade guy might react, but luckily nothing happened.
Switchblade guy knows how to Greyhound. Make everyone keep their distance with zero subtlety. Good strategy. Never had any weapons or bodily fluids on my trips. Just unmedicated people picking fights with one another and the driver. Be sure to wear a poncho next time.
I assume you heard the story of the deranged man in Canada who decapitated someone on a Greyhound ages ago? I believe they let him out a few years ago.
Great post Steve. And I love the pictures and stories about your children.
I wanted to be a musician too but my mother wanted me to go to college and major in STEM because the prospects were better. Fortunately I loved math and science too and had the mind for it. I almost got my PhD twice but instead I became a software engineer, and support my wife and kids (also a son then a daughter) making a comfortable salary.
I’ve written and am currently recording my first song right now at 57. I’m excited about circling back later in life to also be an amateur musician. You had a link to your album. I’ll check it out.
Hi Jeff. Glad you enjoyed the post. And very cool that you’re recording your first song! I’ve written a few over the last few years, after a several-decade hiatus. It’s such a great buzz!
Probably went to Onslo rather than Wellington Boys. Me, I went to Taita Cllge, though out of school brushed cotton check was my preferred shirt too, but I didn't reach 6'.
Hey fellow Kiwi. Nah, I went to Wellington Boys. I might have preferred Onslow though…
Onslow did have a reputation . . . for being 'druggy'.
True, true - it might have been more fun but a worse move long-term.
Hilarious reading both you and the commenter Jeff. Started a band, could not find a drummer, musical differences, etc. Married a Beckett from Dublin not too far from TCD. Became and engineer but a nagging deep interest in Psychology. Like Jeff, at age 57 have taken up the guitar again - perhaps to distract myself from the current madness. High openness, low agreeableness ambivert. Pity you did not share MBTI. Had pegged you as ENTP. (As mentioned befores till writing my thesis on all that BTW and its not measuring quite the same thing as OCEAN.)
Cheers,
H
Yeah, I put down the guitar for several years before my colleagues persuaded me to pick it up again. It’s a great stress reliever!
Have a similarly very early memory of Lennon's death. My sister and I thought Charlie Chaplin shot him.
I've read lots of people remembering it, or not, or getting it wrong.
My father told me Lennon was shot when he was out jogging in Central Park, by a man who wanted to impress Jodi Foster.
Hahaha, oops! 😂
That’s hilarious 😂
I've literally wept to a Day in the Life. I can't quite commit to a favourite song because it's too mood dependent for me, but it would have to be in the top 3. I'm actually more of a McCartney guy overall, but a Day in the Life achieves a meloncholic sublimity more profound that anything McCartney wrote -- not to discount his contribution to the middle 8!
Yeah, I know what you mean - although I can commit to a favorite song, I can’t commit to a second favorite, or a third favorite, or a fourth. After A Day in the Life, I’ve just got a bunch of songs that are in my Top 10, but unrankable. There are probably more than ten songs in that category, though…
I’m a Lennon guy overall, but McCartney’s great too. A complete genius.
I agree with you on retirement I am 72 -i opened a business a few years ago, do some consulting, serve on boards and do volunteering, mentoring. i also play a lot of pickleball
Sounds good!
love the pictures, especially of your Slash days!
Hahaha - thanks Daryl!
Great love stories. Grandma. Music. And your wife.
🙏
“Words of such wit” indeed. Great post. For what it’s worth, I like the time song
Nice - thank you!
I noticed that two things that seem separate happened at almost the same time.
Around the age of nine, you first realized that people disappear. You also realized that one day, you would disappear too.
Around the same time, you had already started writing books.
Later, you tried several times to give up creating. But before long, the urge would return. You wanted to create something that would outlast you.
I’m curious: for you, are these two things really separate?