Until I moved to Seattle I never stepped foot in a bus. No, I never took one to get to school. No, I never took one to meet up friends in high school. Yes, I was spoiled.

When I found out that I needed to take a bus to get to and from work I panicked a little. Ok, maybe a lot. I printed out a few time tables and maps of the route. I even busted out the pink highlighter. I did a few test runs to make sure that I was safe and able to recognize where to get off. The first time I got off on the wrong stop, I got off too soon. The second, I got off too late.

It’s safe to say that after 7 months I have my route down. I know who the bus drivers are, I have the exact times written down and I know how long it takes me to walk to the bus stop. I like to sit in the front of the bus because of my fear that bus is still unsafe. Really, who wants to get murdered where no one can see you?

Contrary to what you believe I didn’t grow up in a farm or in a sheltered life. I’ve experienced what the “city life” is like. I have seen homeless people before.

I think my main fear with riding the bus is homeless people. I had a handful of terrifying experiences when I was younger with homeless men. The one that stands out the most is when I got offered candy from one. We all know, we can’t take candy from strangers. I think I was right in saying no and freaking out from seeing how dirty this man was. Even then I was a germaphobe.

The absolute worse is getting trapped sitting near a homeless person. My nightmare is a homeless person sitting right next to me. It has happened on more than one occasion. I’m sure that they are nice and I don’t want to discriminate. However, it is so hard to be nice to someone who makes you gag and crawl out of your skin because they’re filthy. I have the rain to thank for making it even more unbearable with homeless people. It’s like a wet dog but add months of dumpster diving and wet beards/dreadlocks.

Is there such as thing as being racist against homeless people? Or can I blame my childhood experiences?

Nonetheless, just the thought of riding on a bus with a homeless person makes me nostalgic for the days of riding in an air conditioned car going at my own pace in California.

Until the day I don’t have to ride on the bus I’ll have to be armed. I picture a yellow latex jumpsuit that has a hood with a splash guard where the face is will be just fine. Or perhaps I’ll just continue with my hand sanitizer.

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