Adventures Through Hollywood Part 1

I ride the bus to work. Because I cannot afford to drive at $140 a month for parking, and then the cost of commuting. (gas, and car wear and tear). It is usually an hour and a half to two hours to ride in. Probably the worst thing in the world is sitting on a bus with a bunch of strangers with nothing to do for two hours. So I have started utilizing that time to read, pray, and contemplate. When I started riding the bus, I thought it might be an opportunity for me to build some interesting friendships with people I would otherwise never come in contact with.

Today I was sitting on the bus, in a window seat, doing my usual morning read. At one of the Hollywood stops, a very attractive young lady gets on. I look at her, and uncertain if she looked, or noticed me looking at her (she was wearing sunglasses), I just sort of said to myself (PLEASE SIT NEXT TO ME, PLEASE SIT NEXT TO ME) I think I also looked down towards my knees and whispered those words.

And what does she do? She walks down the aisle, probably ganders around to see what sort of seating options are available, and then sits right down next to me. I look left, towards the window, and clench my fist, and say "YES!" in very giddy, yet conspicuous mannner. Then I think, "dang, now if i dont talk to her, I am going to have regrets." The Nate Deardorff Woman Anxiety sets in. Meanwhile, I am in the middle of my chapter, and its a really good chapter on Work, and God's purpose for it in John Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life" (a cheesy title yes, but with 2 hours of bus ride every day, I will take anything on my brother's shelf) This chapter is precisely what I needed to be reading this morning, given my frustrations at work, and trying to figure out if that is where I should be right now. (maybe another blog on that sometime soon). So this beautiful girl is sitting next to me, and I am nervous, and thinking It would be nice to talk to her, but Its not a big deal if i dont because I am busy reading and enlightening myself, and I can justify that trade-off without feeling like I missed too much opportunity. --I think God was just telling me to finish the chapter.

probably 2 minutes go by. I turn the page, and the chapter is over. Now I am thinking. "DANG IT! NOW I DO HAVE TO TALK TO HER OR I AM SERIOUSLY GOING TO REGRET IT!" Divine providence, it just might be.

So I clsoe my book. I also turn off itunes and close my computer.
And now the challenge comes in. I am sitting there thinking "How do i start a conversation, that isnt akward? ...what if she has no desire to talk, and just wants to get wherever she is going? What if she is a stuck-up hollywood girl that makes her boyfriend buy her everything, and again she has no desire to talk, and ignores me?"

After of about 2-3 minutes of questioning these things in my mind, I muster up the gumption to say something along the lines of "where are you headed?"

"huh?" -- her response. In a mild russian accent

caught off guard by her accent but yet turned on somewhat more, I follow up "Are you going into work?"

she looks at me and smiles: "yes"

I reply: "What do you do?"

"I am an accountant"

"nice, I am in marketing myself"

...

from there we carried on a conversation for the next 20 minutes or so, until I had to get off.

Her name is Katy, She is russian in nationality, but grew up in georgia, and now lives in Hollywood and works in culver city as an accounts payable manager
I didnt think to ask how often she rides the bus. And I did not want to creep her out, and give her the idea that I was hitting on her, so I didnt get any contact information.

But...Deep down I am hoping tomorrow and/or some other time this week we will meet up again. en route to wilshire from hollywood and vine, via the metro rapid 780; conversation will pick up where it left off, and I can get her number. Afterall, She knew the bus route pretty well...she probably frequents the bus.


Stay tuned.