From The Life In Frisco Article Series by Aughtry Cooper
Movin' Movin' Movin'
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If someone wants to make a social statement or get some enlightment on the haves and have-nots in this country, riding the bus is it.
Books like Nickle and Dimed ,which I like, somehow leave out the bus as a barometer of classes in America.
Riding a bus is a realization of how much class is a part of our American society, i.e., the haves and have-nots.
I especially like to ride the bus with my granddaughters. To them, it is a little like a trip to Six Flags. Once we were on a very crowded bus and made a stop in the Mission area where it makes you wonder if there are any Mexicans left in Mexico. Honestly, there are areas that are so much like Tijuana or Nogales or even Juarez. People are cooking on the streets and barely making it. This is San Francisco, not Mexico. I was amazed.
Not a real photo of Lupe, a caricature Real Lupe
| On another day, Lupe, my then eight year old granddaughter, and I are riding the bus and Lupe becomes mesmerized by this female bus driver who is very animated. The driver (Chinese or some Asian nationality) is yelling at other drivers saying, "You idiot, get out of the way." She is entertaining and sees Lupe looking at her and really puts on a show, wheeling the bus, and pumping her fist. Lupe is watching her every move.
At the same point in time, sitting down, in front of us is this lady in Islamic garb: a long robe-like dress and veil(Jilbab) but nothing covering the face(Burqa). She tugs on Lupe's arm and motions for her to sit down. I say to the lady, "Oh, it's OK. I am watching her." She either doesn't understand or ignores me; she tugs and motions for Lupe to sit down. Lupe shakes her head; and, like any curious child, she remains standing so she can see what's going on. The driver, still upset with other drivers, is up and shouting out the door at someone whom she says got "their license by mail order".
laughing-What a Day!
| The bus driver, who is by the way about one hundred pounds, acts like she might "go after" the car drivers. I am just glad for her there were no agressive driving laws then. She's laughing and talking as though everyone is listening and then she's back in her seat. We are moving again.
Somebody tries to sit down beside the Islamic lady; she won't let them and tugs on Lupe's sleeve again to sit down. Lupe looks at her, shrugs, rolls her eyes, and sits down. The Islamic lady relaxes a little and seems happy that Lupe finally did what she was told. The bus driver is still fussing about the other drivers and driving in and out of traffic.
A guy gets on and starts talking to himself, really loudly. He's discussing world events. He discusses the entire newspaper, the homeless situation, and berates Willy Brown, the mayor at that time. Then he says he is going to run against Bush. Everyone is ignoring him. I mean you have to laugh. He has on a wool suit and a big bow tie. Geez, he has to be hot. This is San Francisco.
I begin to wonder if perhaps the slightly schizophrenic guy is "Wavy Gravy", a local comedian that I've read about. I don't think so. We're standing side by side and he says to me: "Got any spare change." I say, "No." He says, "How about a dollar?" I give him five.
Got to love it. A typical bus ride in the Bay City with some haves and have-nots.
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