Tales from the Mainland

I left the island on a balmy Christmas afternoon.  My surprise gift was having three seats to myself all the way to Oakland.  The poor man's first class!

The other unusual thing about my flight to Oakland International Airport was that it ended in a late-night BART ride to the city. Since my plane arrived late on Christmas night and BART was operating, it seemed smart. In years past, I might have wimped-out on such a solo adventure.  I have unfortunately lived in one-too-many small, mostly-white towns over the last couple of decades, until I reclaimed my inner city girl a few years back. The town I now call home is definitely small, but extremely diverse. I am much more comfortable, living in that environment. Anyway... the last leg of my mainland journey was a cinch.  And no poor soul had to drive across the Bay Bridge to fetch me at 11:30 on Christmas night. Plus, I didn't pay $75.00 for a cab ride.

My checked bag showed up fast and I headed outside to catch my AirBart connection. It cost $3.00, and the bus rumbled through the streets to the Coliseum BART station.  My belongings consisted of one rather large checked bag-on-wheels, my backpack, and a reusable Foodland shopping bag. I dragged it all to the automated ticket area, spent  $4.00 on my ticket, then went up the escalator to the platform. I waited only moments for a Daly City train, which would take me to my final destination. 

 

The Golden State Warriors had just won the basketball game at the Coliseum, and  some  of the attendees were also boarding the train. The mood was jubilant, due to the team's victory and it being Christmas.  I grabbed a seat and let my daughters know I was on the final leg of my day-long journey.  They were meeting me at the 24th and Mission stop-several blocks from older daughter's apartment. My poor son was sick with a hellacious cold, so I didn't see his face until the next day.  The flight had arrived ahead of schedule and I'd be in the city well before midnight.  The trip under the bay was swift and entirely uneventful.  I listened to a couple of tunes and enjoyed a little people watching and was in the city in about thirty minutes.  I rode the escalator upstairs and there were my daughters, laughing and smiling.  Sweet relief. We scurried through the now-hushed streets to my daughter's apartment. Then it was officially Christmas.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

Helen Keller