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Friday, November 11, 2005
The 15-second human interaction
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Walking slows the whole world down. You see and learn things that you can’t see and learn in a car. At the convenience store at the corner of Collier and Peachtree, I met Mansoorali, a pleasant man from Bombay who runs the place in the morning. We chatted about caffeine (I don’t care for coffee but I need my Diet Coke). Mansoorali said he doesn’t drink caffeine at all and in fact lives a very healthy lifestyle avoiding, in addition, cigarettes and alcohol. His father in India raised him right, he said. He also mentioned that no one stops in at the store for more than one minute — it’s typically 15 seconds tops.
“No one takes time to talk and get to know about a place or people,” said Mansoorali. “I’ve been to 14 countries and love learning. People are in too big of a hurry.”
I told him about some friends from India here in Atlanta. After five minutes — about 20 times longer than the average customer! — I wished him a great day and headed out once again.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Categories: Carla Caldwell
This MARTA thing’s not so bad
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A male friend, a good-hearted family guy who regularly rides MARTA offered this advice as I prepared for my first trek to work by bus this morning: “Don’t look up. Take a book. Don’t make eye contact.”
I’ve read the Commutant blog this week and been amused, even horrified, at some things passengers have described. But, I’m game, I thought, after all I have a warped sense of humor.
I certainly didn’t want to see the occasional lewd behavior and racist incidents that some riders complained about, but I did want to take in the scene of strangers confined together for a short time in a small space on a MARTA bus and train.
I walked the quarter-mile to the bus station on Peachtree Road to wait on the 23 bus that would take me to the Arts Center train station for the ride downtown. I live near Piedmont Hospital off Collier Road and can make the 4.1-mile trip in exactly 15 minutes. Today’s total trip time was 45 minutes – shorter than I’d expected.
As I continued the block to the bus stop, I encountered eight or nine soldiers, dressed in camo and carrying rifles, walking silently down Peachtree Street in recognition of Veteran’s Day.
The bus arrived at the stop five minutes after I did, three-quarters full and way too quiet. A cell phone yakker boarding at the next stop makes up for that.
At the Arts Center train platform I met Terese Taylor, a nice young woman from Ohio who was studying an Atlanta map. Taylor, who works in human resources in Cincinnati, said she is taking a look-see at Atlanta. We talked people, traffic, Ohio. We parted at the Five Points station, where I gave her my business card and told her to call me for lunch if she ends up in Atlanta.
The station was clean and an attendant at a turnstile even helped me find the right exit to the Five Points Plaza. When I walked into the sunlight there was a penny, heads-up, shining up at me. I picked it up, made a wish and dropped it into my purse.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Carla Caldwell
The 6-mile walk back home
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One small problem walking to work on Thursday - the six-mile return trip in the evening. By that time, I was tired and facing a less forgiving deadline. I could afford to stroll into work 30 minutes late in the morning, but I had to be on time for my babysitter.
So, while the morning trek was pleasant and unhurried and I could sightsee and sip a tasty Mocha Freeze, the homebound journey was frantic and punishing.
I must have looked pained because I had two different guys call out some version of that annoying “How bad can it be - let me see a smile” remark.
I was tempted to say, “Oh, it’s bad. Real bad. My house is in foreclosure. My grandmother died and my children like Abba.”
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Maureen Downey
Commuting, with children …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I normally drive my two children to pre-K and daycare and then drive to the H.E. Holmes MARTA station and catch a train to work. I ride MARTA by choice; I don’t want to deal with parking downtown, and I want some time to read something other than Dora, Little Bill and Spot. Today, as a Commutant, I left the car at home and set out with the girls to catch a bus to school and daycare. At 7 a.m., I was standing on the corner, in the cold, waiting for the bus with my euthusiastic 5-year-old Danielle, my protesting 13-month-old Jocelyn and a stuffed gorilla named “GJ” on his way to show-and-tell at Danielle’s school.
The bus arrived 22 freezing minutes later. We only rode seven blocks or so before having to get off and walk the rest of the way to Danielle’s school. By now baby Jocelyn has fallen asleep. Fifteen minutes later after dropping off Danielle, we catch a bus to Holmes station and then walk 15 more minutes to the family daycare that Jocelyn attends. Then it’s back to the station for me.
I see other walkers, including a woman who dropped trash on the street just a few feet away from a trash can. I finally catch the train and get to work about 30 minutes later than normal.
I do not envy mothers who have to make those treks to schools, daycare and then to work. They have to get up earlier, get their children up earlier and spend more time just getting around.
Once aboard the train, I pull the newspaper out and am greeted by stories on terrorist bombings and genes that raise the risk of heart attack in African-Americans. Important things I need to know, but now I’m starting to look forward to another Little Bill book.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: Veronica Johnson
