The Wheels on the Bus Go Round & Round. . .

Little Zo Peep and I did something different on Sunday. We took public transportation to travel to and from her Chinese dance class. Zo Peep loves to travel on the bus. I like it too -- for lots of reasons.


The dance studio we attend is in the theatre district of our city. The theatre district is quite close to the sports arenas. On days like Sunday when both cultural events and sporting events are occurring simultaneously, parking spaces are impossible to find.


So on those days we take the bus. With a limited Sunday schedule we need to leave home about 20 minutes earlier than usual. Plus, we also have to sprint from class to catch the 3:20 bus to return home -- both minor issues. The advantages of taking the bus far outweigh these tiny downsides.


Of course the bus eliminates the hassle of driving and it is cheaper than driving my car. On bus days I don't have to deal with crazy drivers or circle the block for 20 minutes looking for a free meter or a parking garage with free space. I also am not using gas or paying parking garage fees. Wouldn't Al Gore give me a thumbs up on my personal reduction of carbon emissions.

But the major treat of riding the bus is to watch the wonderment and excitement in Zo Peep. It's also a time for Zo Peep to begin to learn important life lessons.


For Zo Peep, bus travel is the only way to go. First, she can sit with Mommy which is a treat all by itself. Second, she doesn't have to sit in a booster seat or deal with a seat belt (Of course this fact freaks me out -- but I understand her joy of unfettered freedom ). Third, she always meets such interesting people on the bus. Zo Peep usually strikes up a conversation with the folks at the bus stop and those who sit around us. On Sunday, she passed around photos of Libby Doodle Doo to all who would listen. Finally, she loves to sit by the window and stare at all the neighborhoods we pass through. She talks and asks questions about the parks and playgrounds, the churches and schools, the dog walkers and joggers, the dilapidated neighborhoods and homeless people (yes, our bus route allows her to see some things that aren't exactly straight out of Disneyland).


I don't mind that she see these types of things at her young age. They are facts of life. We talk about them . She asks questions and I answer her simply and honestly At her young age she is beginning to understand that not everyone has the same life experiences that she now enjoys. Hopefully, she is also beginning to realize that a person's character is not defined by the house he lives in; the car he drives; or the clothes he wears.


All these life lessons for a $1.75 bus fare.