The Bus Came By And I Got On

It’s August of 1974 and I’m standing at this bus stop, not a bus stop in the traditional sense mind you, but a bus stop just the same. After a few minutes of waiting, what looks like an old school bus painted in wild psychedelic colors comes rattling up to the curb. The door opens with a clank and I’m invited by this wild-eyed cowboy to come on in. This being a time in my life when my spirit felt free, where the future seemed limitless and guard rails nonexistent, I figured, what the hell and hopped aboard. I was immediately asked by this cowboy, “Your future has arrived, are you ready to take the trip?” I nodded my head and took a seat. Thus my journey had begun.

The Cowboy was a hootin’ and a hollerin’, holding three conversations at once while he double clutched, careening around corners, barely keeping this bucking bronco of a bus on the road. At first I held on for dear life wondering why I decided to put my life in the hands of this madman. But eventually I settled in and decided I would see this journey through to its destination, coming to the realization that the ride is the trip and the only way out is through.

Let me tell you about the inside of this bus. It was painted in all the colors of the rainbow and colors that the rainbow itself had yet to imagine in shapes and patterns, runes and glyphs, like Warhol meets Lascaux by way of Diego Rivera and Paul Klee. It was dizzy, dazzling and delightful. Soon my mind  began to expand beyond its borders to frontiers previously unknown. All the while music reverberated inside this erstwhile starship. This music had texture and color, shape shifting to fit the mood and vibe of me and my fellow travelers. It was alive and took over our bodies as we swirled around each other, blissful whirling dervishes moving as one to this glorious calliope of sound. We played the music and the music played us, we were amoebas colliding to create sounds previously unheard. I knew right then that moving forward I’d mark the trajectory of my life by before I got on the bus and everything that came afterwards.

Every so often, seemingly on his own schedule (was there a schedule?), The Cowboy would pull the bus over, clank went the doors and new people would get on. Women; beatific, barefoot and bejeweled with crimson roses and scarlet begonias in hair that just flowed and flowed, young men in dreadlocks, tams and tie dyes, walking rainbows that added even more color to the pulsating hues. There were so many memorable characters: Whirly Copter Guy, Sammie Girl, Dancing Bear Dude, to name just a few. Everyone was just so damn beautiful and I’m not just talking about a subjective outer beauty but a deeper beauty that comes from within and bursts forth in smiles and hugs. There was every flavor in the ice cream shop and more.

The bus stopped often but no matter how many people got on there was always room for one more. Everyone was welcome and no one was ever turned away. If you opened your heart to the possibilities of this trip you could let your freak flag fly and have the time of your life. Never in my life had I experienced a more open, judgement free and accepting place than this bus, it was crazier than a box of kittens and more fun than I could ever  have imagined.

The culture of exploration and chance taking that exists on the bus has inspired me to, among other things, learn guitar, travel and become a teacher. A woman named Carol, she of the sparkly eyes and river of red hair, was also a passenger on the bus. It took a while for us to meet (it gets kinda crowded in here) but when we did sparks began to fly. We’ve been married 24 years and have two wonderful children.

But wait, you may ask, you speak of this bus as if it’s a thing of the past, a fading memory of times gone by. If it was as wonderful a place as you’ve described, why did you get off? Well dear reader I’m pleased to inform you that I am indeed still on the bus, all of the love, fun, music and adventure are still here too. Over the years the passengers have changed, there’s a touch of grey to us all. The Cowboy is a bit more cautious, nowadays he has both hands on the wheel and actually drives the speed limit. However, the destination remains the same…furthur!