Alone, at the Bottom of the World (part 28)

Mother

When I was a little but growing child, I knew everyone loved their mother as much as I did mine. I thought they also adored their siblings, and although they might fight and argue with them, they would surely defend them against all enemies at home and abroad.

But in time I saw that some did not feel quite this way, and I was shocked; even scandalized. If my siblings had not loved me (as I knew they did), a whole world of love could not have compensated.

So you can see where my heart was as I crept southward. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gord99/6216444888/

And I do mean crept for it took nearly 24 hours for Greyhound to complete this last leg filled with layovers and bus changes. By now I was accustomed to the eccentricities of American bus travel. But everyone was treated kindly (with one notable exception you may remember). One could sit wherever one wished, unless the seat was already populated. And there was a bathroom easily available at the back. But the bathroom...

I had lost any naiveté about crowded humanity with one tiny bathroom, early on the trip. Bus bathrooms (at least in 1973) were places to sit as far away from as possible. I'm sure I do not need to explain.

And there were the occasional bouts of motion sickness which plagued both me and my fellow passengers. Small children especially seemed always to be getting sick. About a week into the 3-week journey, I awoke to a terrible stench wafting out from somewhere in the back. It made me feel awfully sick, and I began crawling down the aisle and away from the bathroom. The driver could see me and called out, "Must sit in your seat, Miss. Get back into your seat."

"Sir, I ... can't ... I'm ... sick ... must get off..." 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16815032@N05/8074467769/

"Go into the bathroom, Miss. You can't be sick out here."

One lady dashed to the bathroom and got a wet paper towel for my forehead (I heard her shouting,"What a stink!"). By now the other passengers were urging the driver to stop before the inevitable happened. The driver did not want to stop, but with a sigh he finally pulled over and let me crawl out. Oh, the humiliation of it all.

So you can see how I looked forward to the end of checking bus schedules, sleeping sitting up, and eating at Greasy Spoons. Ahead was the welcome of a family, and deliciously cooked meals, and sleeping in a bed. 

And, for me the greatest of luxuries - bathrooms that do not require a gas mask.

See you along the way!
the SconeLady

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gord99/6216444888/">Gord McKenna</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16815032@N05/8074467769/">MisterDodgy</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">cc</a>