Have you ever gone from (having) a car to no car? It’s really really rough, especially when you don’t have a Metro within walking distance of your home. Welcome to my summer.
I’ve actually been without a car for the last year, after the one my parents had informally given me was totaled last summer by someone who shall remain nameless (It’s not me, although I did once get into an accident under humorous circumstances. It was the summer after freshman year of college and a friend and I were on our way back to my house after sneaking out to avoid a long, boring family meeting. We were deep in conversation, and she said something I totally agreed with. Showing my enthusiasm, I replied, “Yes, Yes, YES!” as I made a left turn onto what I thought was another street. However, I actually knocked into a median, bending the axle of the front left tire. It cost $2,000 to replace. The mechanic told my parents he thought someone had jumped a curb trying to make a U-turn. That wasn’t too far off from what actually happened, so I’ve allowed that story to stick. I’ve never been very spontaneous, and I’m easily consumed by guilt, so I don’t think I’ve ever had the gumption to sneak out before a family meeting since.)
ANYWAY, it wasn’t so bad not having a car before the summer because 1) I was living in an apartment right by the Metro, which was also a seven-minute ride from campus and 2) during the school year all I really did was go to class, study a lot and sleep a little. When summer rolled around and I moved back home, however, I really started to feel the hassle of not having wheels.
WEEKDAY WOES
The struggle of being in suburbia without a car varies with the chosen activity. Socially, I’ve largely managed because I either meet people in the city or request a ride from a friend, but I can’t do that when I go to my internship each morning. That experience is the source of my woes…
In the morning I get dropped off at the Metro, and it's a good half-hour ride into the city. Not too bad, but on the way back I have to take a 10-minute bus ride from the Metro to my house. Anyone who’s ridden the bus can testify---it’s a bizarre experience, mostly because of the people…
Usually when people have smiles on their faces you can assume they’re naturally cheerful, or are just excited about something. When people smile on the bus, however, you know they’re crazy, and about to bust out with something to confirm it, such as “Mommy, can I trim the Christmas tree and open my presents?” The problem is, it’s like, July, and the person is forty years old with a dusting of gray hair (True story).
And as I’ve said before, I’m disgusted by the significant increase of sexual harassers in the summer. I particularly detest the ones on the bus, who play that let-me-stare-at-you-mumble-and-lick-my-lips nonsense. In those scenarios I’m not only about to barf, I’m also fearing for my life, because the odds are the creep is crazy!
And then there’s Sunday mornings... On Saturday nights I like to do the usual: hang out with friends. However, this summer I’ve had to come home kind of early because I have to ride to church with my parents, who try to get there an hour before service starts. That means I actually lose two hours of Sunday-morning sleep. My other choices? Go to another church with one brother or get to church really late with the other. Hence, I bite the bullet.
THE UP SIDE?
Despite my woes, I do have to admit there is a bright side. Through riding with my parents on Sunday mornings I’ve actually made them happy. They’ve been feeling a little neglected by their other two children who have cars, although sometimes I can’t tell whether they’re laughing at my predicament, or they’re excited to see me, or both… Either way I’ve recently been dubbed “pseudo-only child” for being the only one to hang out with them.
Another really really good thing? I’m getting a car in a few weeks...(sigh) but only in time for school, when my love fest with the law library resumes…So if you haven’t given me a ride this summer, now is the time to be a friend…
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