Musings on Commuting

Over the last month, I've been getting used to actual commuting to work. I've never really had to commute before. When I lived in DC, I took a 20 minute train ride and then walked a mile to and from work, but that was more relaxing than anything. It gave me a chance to see the city and to have 20 solid minutes of reading every day. And in Michigan I had a seven-minute drive to work, so that doesn't count as a commute. So this new commute of 40 minutes each way has been a new experience. Hence, our topic for today: commuting. And I'll even talk about my non-commutes of days past.

First, in DC, the train ride was fun. Every morning, everybody would stand at their particular spot on the train platform, so the same people ended up on the same train cars every day. This meant that I generally recognized about 90% of the passengers. And, even though we all knew each other and expected to see each other every day, nobody EVER talked. Every now and then, we'd get a new person who would try to start a conversation, and he would either be ignored or shushed. Talking just wasn't socially acceptable on the DC commute.

Here's my favorite story of Michigan commuting. One day, I was driving to work. It was a nice, sunny summer morning. I needed to make a right turn onto one of the busiest roads in the area, but traffic was at a stand still. A few cars ahead, a bunny was sitting in the middle of the road. The driver of the first car had gotten out and was trying to coax the bunny off the road, while all the other drivers just sat there patiently waiting. Nobody honked, yelled, etc. We all just watched as the bunny was gradually persuaded into the forest. Then the driver waved to everyone, got back in his car, and we all went on our way. It was the perfect start to a day.

Now for my new commute. First of all, just like in DC, I'm starting to recognize people on the road. There's the red minicooper, with the license plate "funsizd" (speaking of which, I think minis must have the highest rate of vanity plates- just about every mini I see has a license plate that is trying to be cute); I pass a big 14-passenger van on the beltway every morning that I think is some kind of preschool carpool. It says something like "Mountainland Academy" on the side, and it's always full of little kids in carseats, usually asleep.

One frustrating thing I've learned about commuting is that timing is essential. If I leave the office before about 5:17, traffic is a nightmare. I have a 10-minute wait to get from 2-15 to I-15, and all the Sandy exits are backed up for at least a mile each. But if I leave between 5:18 and 5:30, I have smooth sailing all the way home, besides a little slowing in Sandy. And then if I'm between 5:30 and 5:40, it's bad again. Weird.

And here's a curious little item. Every morning without fail, the ramp between I-15 northbound and 2-15 westbound smells like burnt toast. I don't smell it until I get on the ramp, and it's gone as soon as I'm off the ramp. Why is that?

Over the last few months, I've found a new pleasure in life. I've been getting to know my neices and nephews after years of living thousands of miles away, and it turns out they're pretty cool. They're getting into the age group now where they know about things other than Sesame Street and Barbie movies, and they have actual thoughts and opinions to share and discuss. It's fun to sit with one or two of them at a time and talk about the latest music, books, movies, restaurants, etc. So yes, neices and nephews are fun people.