It’s easy to be cynical about people in this city, whether because they have a wide stance, like to chat up the wrong people online, or just in general seem selfish in their behavior. I’m finding that taking mass transit is instead exposing me to people’s little courtesies and kindnesses, and they put my day off to a good start. Maybe they’ll improve yours.
A few minutes into my journey on the bus, a woman got on who clearly wasn’t used to taking it and lacked the proper change. The bus driver was being kind but firm with her and someone sitting near the front said “here, I have change.” She didn’t in fact, have full change for the woman’s fiver – she just had the necessary change to pay the woman’s fare. She refused to take the $5 in exchange for 75 cents – which would have been a sizable ROI – and told her not to worry about it.
A wee later, another fellow stopped what he was reading, leaned forward and waved at someone sitting down and across from him. “You dropped something there.” Not a great sacrifice, not even as much as giving away $0.75, but a small and basic courtesy he could have failed to do never the less.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
Well I used to say something in my profile about not quite being a “tinker, tailor, soldier, or spy” but Tom stole that for our about us page, so I guess I’ll have to find another way to express that I am a man of many interests.
Hmm, guess I just did.
My tastes run the gamut from sophomoric to Shakespeare and in my “professional” life I’ve sold things, served beer, written software, and carried heavy objects… sometimes at the same place. It’s that range of loves and activities that makes it so easy for me to love DC – we’ve got it all.
