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A Pause for TED

3/25/2019

2 Comments

 
Picture
I'm giving a TEDx talk on May 4th.

(!!!)

The details will be updated here, at the home page for TEDxUofW. 

I'll be very intermittent on the blog between now and then, but it's not because I don't love you all! I need time to finesse this thing so it can be worth your while. You know how I like to get these sorts of things right (check out the Speeches page for past public speaking appearances of mine!). 

---

That's one update. The other update is that as of last night I'm finally back where I belong: on the fabulous, legendary nighttime 7/49. You won't have to read about me griping about lack of community on the 5 (although I've really grown to adore some of the folks out there; more on that anon). Instead, you'll hear me waxing poetic about the litter on my bus, pictured above, on one of the few lines where the route is instantly identifiable by the condition of the coach interior!

And sharing moments like this one, which happened on my first night back, and the number of similar incidents of which I've already lost count:

---

Sensitive dark eyes glinting with a human spark after hours, deep in the southland interior. "Where you been, man?" he exclaimed. He had that certain middle-aged grin, easy, a face that still thinks it's a child from time to time, able to glow.

I smiled wide. "I been right here waiting for you!"
"Ha! Really though!"
"I was hidin' out on another route but I had to get back here. I missed this one!"
"What number they had you on?"
"The 5."
"The 5, oh. How you like that?"
"The 5 is..." I gave the 'more-or-less' hand gesture. "It's okaayyyyyy."
"It's okayyy."
"Yeah it's, you know. They're all right. But I miss the energy out here, people sayin' hey!"
"Tha's what I'm talkin' about! My guy is IN TOWN!"
"You know it!"
"IN TOWN!" He had to put his ebullience somewhere; it was too much for only me. He turned to the person next to him, a half-attentive younger fellow this midnight hour, but who nodded in agreement to his enthusiasm: "Ey, you know this guy? Talkin' 'bout this driver, bro! Beautiful boy! Man's got a heart, you know wh'I'm saying?" He reached back up to me with his voice. "Ah love you. No. I love you."
"Love you back, my guy! Great to be back!"
"Sheeeyit. Man, stay on our shift! Love you. Everyday just like you know, we already got what we need!"

I might be the only person who's equally excited to be giving a TED talk and driving the night 7....

---

​Thanks for tolerating my absenteeism from the blog this next month. I'll still stop in from time to time, and meanwhile, check out this list of 2018 highlights from my blog, with commentary!
2 Comments
Grewal Diljyot
3/25/2019 08:01:36 am

Aww you are amazing as you were nathan.You are so nice to everyone N, who really always in a dream to get treated the way all other community got treated respectfully and politely(m talking bout those who have their work schedule, they wear nice they looks clean nd able to complete their dreams) nothing is wrong in that obviously they deserves respect nd they earn it also they earn according to their needs .

But matter of fact is all the drivers and general community in seattle treat people most of the times like a piece of crap if you are not wearing standard clothing , the way of making conversation to another person it is human natural adverse reaction i guess ovr here due to hectic schedules ,needs, expenses, demands all are too high acc to job opportunities so nobody has patience actualy but i would breifly say some time all the people especially night crew at that route is too hard to handle so some of them are just made their wrong choices to be on streets homelessness sleeps in buses but some of them got no choice nd nobody willing to help nd ask them wt exactly is ur issue unless they change their status, way of talking( which is like that cz struggling too much for everyday needs nd still cant come up with it due to trump awesome government so if we allmakes an effort like nathan atleast greet them nicely nd ma ke them feel they r imp. As others are we can sort out their problems just by being nice 50% .
You are the one who try to feel them nd try to undrstnd their present situation by doing that the time they spent withyou is so amazing for them.m so sorry for mess but i guess it will be nice nd clean frm now onwrds cz evrybdy wants to be haappy .😍one nd only great reason cz we loves your etiquette you got nd the politeness.

Reply
Nathan
4/16/2019 01:07:42 am

I don't mind the mess! I think it adds neighborhood flavor! In all seriousness, thank you for your kind words. Littering is a thing people do, I think, when they have no control over physical spaces, and want to exert some kind of control. I love being out there with the folks. It's my comfort zone.

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