Something out of the ordinary has happened to me, I ‘ve drive three different routes/ schedules in the last three days.. How does that happen? well I was bumped off my run and ended up on a temporary assignment for one day then onto my permanent assignment today. It’s safe to say I’ve drive all sections of the Valley in the last 72 hours and with it.. I’ve visited most of the places and times of my life.
Quantum physics describes the notion of spacetime and a 4 dimensional approach to existence that includes time. Basically it says all points exist at all times simultaneously, after three days I appreciate the concept a lot better now. My run that I was bumped off from was very much in the now.. This is the valley I live in today. I drive in my neighborhood, passing my house twice a day. Every morning I would wave to Bob the crossing guard for my kids school. I liked being in and around my little neighborhood. I could keep an eye on things. Then I realized over the last two days that every where in the Valley is connected to me by spacetime
On Tuesday I worked Victory Blvd. I drove by the football field I played high school games on, passed within 20 ft of the room where my father died. I noticed the alley friends and I used to drink beer in. A part of me felt sad to see the sorry shape of the old UA 6 Valley Plaza Movie theater. ( it was my first real date) I couldn’t help but reminisce over the empty storefronts that used to be the Pickel Barrel Deli and Cecilia’s Ice Cream Parlor, the former being my first real job, the latter being the first ( and only) Job I was fired from. ( rightfully so, I sucked at scooping ice cream) further down the road I passed the location where I enlisted in the Marines. then my Parents house along the way I noted a dozen or so friends streets and where they lived. Today I passed my old high school and the Park I used to party at as a kid. There was the Burbank Price Club where I worked for a Year and the bus stop where I used to catch the bus to go to school.
I thought to myself, how it’s all changed? They’re gone, everybody is gone. An entire city of places and people I knew growing up and none are left, except me. In that, I truly was living in the past and the present at the same time. remembering the way it was, how it is and wonder what will be. I truly existed in all points of the valley, at all times. It’s natural I suppose.. people move on, bodies in motion. Our own solar system only occupies a point in space for a fraction of time then it moves on and leaves a cold vacuum. North Hollywood is that cold vacuum. How can communities survive if it’s people up and leave? who will carry on? As for me.. I drive my bus.. pondering the shuttered up storefronts wondering if the past was as good as I remember or did just seem better because it was “my”past.
Tags: blog, blogging, Bus drivers, Buses, crazy stories, culture, ethnography, farebox, Hidden LA, Los Angeles, Metro, MTA, San Fernando Valley, stories, transit
