I am always reminded that often the real lessons of life lie in chance encounters or in simple situations. These occurrences present golden nuggets of wisdom that are dangled before our eyes. They must simply be grasped. We sadly often miss them, or at least I do. The great philosophers and sages do have eminent parables to relate and clever treatises to promulgate. The thoughts of the individual “just getting through life” are often as profound, however. I was on a series of public buses in a recent trip and, as always, I took the opportunity to speak to the bus drivers. I find them to be a fascinating group of individuals because they have “none-stop” social interaction. They are more occupied, from a work-time related perspective, than any profession I can think of with perhaps the exception of the doctor, dentist or teacher. They come in all shapes and sizes, ethnicities and are equally balanced between men and women. I think they are extremists, as well. They either hate people or love all of humanity, including the grubby, the unwashed and the downright rude. On my sojourn, I had two interesting conversations: “So, do you enjoy driving?” I inquired. “What! You mean for work?” was the riposte. “Yes,” I acknowledged, “for work.” “I hate work. Anyone who thought up this concept of work is full of b*** s***.” Now that is an “eye opener” at 6:00 in the morning, especially when on your way to said work, I am sure. “What if you enjoyed your work,” I probed. “Then, it wouldn’t be work, would it?” the “el stupido” being silently uttered with the eyes.
