I am Mae German. 34 years old. Born in Mangatarem, province of Pangasinan. I was taught and trained by 
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Some-Kinda-Blog-Stop To My Angels on the Road.
Some-Kinda-Blog-Stop To My Angels on the Road. | To My Angels on the Road. |
| Tuesday, 24 March 2009 | |
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To My Two Angels in Newark Penn Station: Thank You. I know I have said those words before I left the Information Office at the Newark Penn Station. I want to say it over and over again if only I would see them again. They have given me another boost. I am, once again, looking forward to the day that I could experiment on my bus ride going to Metuchen Rail Station. In six months, everytime I had to commute from Metuchen Rail Station to South Plainfield, I had to walk a few blocks just to get to the bus station because I can't seem to find the other bus stop near the rail station. One time I missed my time for just a few seconds, I had to wait for an hour for the next bus. Imagine me on winter time. Thanks to the lady-traffic guard at the corner of Main St. and of Route 27 in Metuchen, she has kept me entertained on those times. I still see her around but I guess I won't see her too often now. A few days ago, I took out my one-dollar map and traced the routes of the buses in Middlesex County. The NJ Transit website was flooded with information when all I needed to know was how to get home via another bus ride. The last time I went to the office of NJ Transit in Newark Penn Station, the reception was not too friendly. Today I told myself I'd try again. I will never regret trying again. I opened the door and went straight to the stack of maps (I wonder why there's an ad for the wine of the month there). I almost jumped in surprise when I heard a voice from behind. "Hi. Can I help you? Do you need help on your train ride?" I looked at her and she was all-smile. "Uhh.. not the train ride tho', but the bus ride. You see, I am trying to find an alternative route going to South Plainfield just in case I miss the last trip." She was confused but she reached out a pamphlet from one of the stacks. "Here. You need this. I can't help you any further but let's go to that booth," she said, "she can give you details from the system," she continued. "Thank you," I told her. I really appreciate the guidance. "Can you help her? She's going to Metuchen then to Plainfield," she told the other lady before she left. "Yes, please. I need to know another bus going to South Plainfield from Metuchen, or maybe from Edison to Plainfield? Is there a connecting bus for that, like 810?" I finally said to the lady at the counter. "Hmm... you're taking the train going to Metuchen from here, right?" she asked and I said yes as she was trying to type something on her computer. "I am afraid bus 819 is your only option," she said. I was a little disappointed. That means, my last trip in Metuchen is really at 6:32pm. I was hoping there's another way or another bus. "Would you be able to know the morning schedule in South Plainfield going to Metuchen? Coz the website says it's 6:49am and that's it," I finally found the courage to ask her. "All right. Let me give you another pamphlet," she handed me another paper and I was grinning with joy when I thanked her. I examined the pamphlets while I was on my train ride to Metuchen. There are a lot of trips in the morning going to Metuchen in Sampton Ave. (at Plainfield Ave.) and there is a bus stop somewhere near the rail station. With conviction I told myself I'd find out soon how far is Sampton Ave. from home and with conviction I told myself that I'd find the bus stop near the rail station today. And I did find it just a few meters from the rail station! No wonder why I couldn't find it before, there was (and still, is) no sign that there is a bus stop there! If not from the right timing of bus 819, I wouldn't know it either. It arrived when I was trying to decide whether I'd walk some more or go to my usual bus stop in Main St.. Pennsylvania Ave. at Metuchen Rail Station. That's it! There's no post for a bus stop, but yes, there is a bus stop and I could just hop my way there from the rail station. And I learned which streets to take now if I miss my last bus trip in Metuchen (via Central and Oak Tree Road). Teehee! That'll be 3 miles from home but at least I won't be in a rat maze if I decided to walk, right? Yey to my discovery! "Go ask around," someone told me before. Believe me, I did that many times and got the same answer, "I have no idea". A policeman in Metuchen even told me the wrong bus stop one time, that made me miss my bus ride that day (I had to wait for another hour for the next one). When you are in a place where commuters are few and schedule of buses are by the hour, expect to get the same answer from the residents of that town-- "I have no idea." And so I learned to rely on the internet, but sometimes hitting that search button on Google doesn't help at all. Sometimes we need human interaction to get by and the intercession of Angels to have your questions (and prayers) answered. This is but a small thing, I know. But in my eyes, they are magnified. When I have learned most (if not all) the train and bus routes to the places that I wish to go to, I know I'll have my own car. And when that time comes I know I'd tell myself while my hands are on the wheel, "God, I miss riding on buses and trains." And I will probably miss walking. I know there will be days that I'd leave my car and do it again and hopefully meet more angels on my way to some place that I've never been to. This is one reason why I was never afraid to travel alone. I know that as much as there are demons and evils in this world, there will be Angels on my way, added to the Angel by my side. The truth is, I am never alone. Guess what? The Amtrak just waved at me today! Yup! Crazy as it may seem but I am enjoying my life as a commuter. |
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