The best and the worst thing about taking public transportation (PT) are your fellow travellers.
Recently I took the 51 from near work so I could get to the Cody's on Telegraph to watch Sarah Vowell speak. But a few stops later a tall man wearing a red wool hat got in and sat opposite me. I was sitting in the first row of seats and he sat on the last seat of the row along the side of the bus. I can smell him and its not pretty. It makes me feel sick. It's a kind of wet, sweaty, rank, too many clothes on a hot day kind of smell. I think I am more affected by smells than most other people I know. I can't even read books that have descriptions of smells. In fact describing that smell right above made me feel sick all over again.
I hope that he will get off soon. I contemplate moving to another seat. Because of the way we are sitting he can't see me, but I am concerned that I will be judged by my fellow passengers if I relocate. So I stay put and try to distract myself and try to cover my nose in a not so obvious manner. But I can't stand it anymore. So when the bus nears Shattuck, my last chance to decide if I should brave it out or get off--I get off. Ironically so does the man. But there is no turning back now.
I would have loved to see Sarah Vowell but my olfactory system could only take so much abuse in her name!
