Saturday, August 29, 2015

Inconvenience, Rightly Considered




"An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." 

I may be favorably biased toward any quote of Chesterton's but this is a statement filled with truth, regardless.

I was reminded of this bit of Chesterton wisdom last week, when I had to navigate the Austin metro bus system. 

Now, that might seem fairly insignificant, but for this country girl, that was an entirely new experience. I have never taken a metro bus anywhere. Ever.

My adventure started out while I waited at the bus stop. The south-bound bus stop. I watched the northbound bus I was supposed to catch as it passed by. 

When the next northbound bus stopped by and, I, safely on the correct side of the street this time and therefore able to board, got on, I had a new revelation: one is supposed to have the exact change to purchase a ticket. Who would've thought? The bus driver patiently waited while I fumbled in my purse for coins, dollar bills flying about out and falling everywhere to the ground.

He kindly took my offering of $1.08, saying it was okay this time (even though I was 16 cents short.) 

I got off at 4th and Lavaca to transfer to my second bus. All I could think of was that I was relieved I was on 4th Street, rather than 6th Street, walking alone downtown in Austin on a Saturday nite.

I realized I still needed change for the next bus. I espied a little coffee shop/bar on the street corner and figured it looked like a promising place to beg for change. 

Once I entered, I recalled how thirsty I was, having waited in the heat earlier. It was a toss-up between it and some of the tantalizing herbal teas they offered, but I finally chose the mango smoothie. Good choice. I paused for a moment, letting my senses savor enjoying my delightful beverage and the place's ambiance. And the music. (I always judge whether a coffee shop is worth a return visit based on its music.)

Then it was off to the next bus stop. Except, it wasn't there. Not at 4th and San Antonio like it was supposed to be. 

I finally decided one of these expert bus-takers would be able to help me, so I walked to the closest crowded bus stop. "I don't live here" and "No hablo Englais" were the commonest responses, but I finally hit on a local. "It should be there," he assured me. "Keep walking and you should see it almost directly across from the eastbound bus stop."

With this encouragement, I was newly determined to find it. And I did... the sign was nicely covered up by construction signs. A kind couple stopped and asked me if I was okay (they'd evidently noticed my confused expression and aimless wandering.)

Then another thought struck me: I'd gotten quarters at the coffee shop but didn't have any dollar bills left. I still didn't have correct change! At this point, it was close to sunset. I looked up the street. Some sort of boutique grocery seemed to be the only thing open. So I took off for it. The cashier gladly gave me change - not sure if it was because it was the end of day or because my puppy dog eyes had an effect on him, but it worked. 

"Thanks!" I said as I dashed off, and ran the block or two back to my bus stop... just as my bus was about to take off from the stop. I waved and he stopped when he saw me. I got on, breathless. "I'm glad to catch you!" The bus driver seemed non-plussed. Long day I suppose. 

I was his only passenger, and he had just passed the bus stop I needed, when I realized the bus doesn't stop at every stop. Go figure. "Oh, I needed that stop," I told him. "You have to pull the cord," he replied. He probably thought I was crazy, but how was I supposed to know? He let me off at the next stop, which wasn't too much past the other, and I called Nancy to let her know I'd finally arrived (albeit, an hour and half later than she'd originally expected me.)

It seem so often, that when plans get mixed up or things go wrong or differently than I expect they should, I get stressed out or become frustrated. But during this entire scenario, Chesterton's quote kept coming to mind. "This is an adventure," I kept thinking, "and I will make it to my goal eventually, one way or another."  There was nothing lost from the "inconvenience" (if it could be called that) other than time (and that's often over-rated.)

I gained a lot from that Saturday evening bus trip, though. First, how to navigate metro bus systems. And secondly, how to just enjoy the journey - even if it takes a few unexpected turns.