To a NJ Transit Driver...

I am currently sitting in the living room of my friend's apartment.  It's 71 degrees and 8:52 in the morning. If you think that I can't possibly be in Seattle, then you are absolutely right!  Last Tuesday, Greg and I ventured across the country to visit friends in the Big Apple (New York City in case you aren't caught up on city nicknames).  And this is where my tale begins...

Imagine you have just exited a plane after having sat for a 5 hour flight.  You're tired, uncomfortable, and a little unsure as to where you should be headed next.  Slowly you orient yourself to your surroundings and begin the long trek across the airport to find the ground transportation that will carry you to your final destination.  After stopping for directions several times and a short bathroom break, you finally arrive at the bus stop only to see a Port Authority bound bus driving away from the curb.  Fortunately the next one is in 15 minutes.  So you wait.  After what feels like forever, the next bus arrives and you happily board thinking, "NYC, here I come!"  

Half an hour later, those excited thoughts turn to ones of frustration...  For the bus you are traveling on has broken down on the side of an exit ramp.  You've heard nothing from the bus driver, save that he cannot go forward due to mechanical problems.  Passengers around you are grumbling and you can feel tension in the air.  Several riders make their way to the front of the bus to talk with the driver, but one by one they return to their seats with no new information.  30 minutes pass by.  The bus driver makes an announcement, which you can barely hear.  Snippets of the dialogue reach your ears, but that's about it.  You now know that a new bus should eventually be coming to pick you up, but there is no way of knowing when.  Another 15 minutes pass by.  At this point you are angry, tired, hungry, and uncomfortable.  You make the decision to disembark the bus and wait outside.  A small crowd is gathered around a clipboard, as people write down their names and contact information.  There's a chance we may be getting a refund, but no one knows for sure (of course!).  You also find out that the driver has been waving by buses who gesture that they're willing to stop and help!

Finally, a NJ Transit bus pulls over and someone quickly runs over to the find out where it's going.  Success!  This bus is headed to Port Authority Bus Station!  Unfortunately, as your traveling partner runs to grab your luggage from the broken down bus, the transit bus starts to close its doors.  Frantically you race after it, shouting,"Wait!!"  The kind bus driver reopens the door and after hearing your plight ("we've been waiting over an hour, just have to get our luggage..."), he promptly pulls over the curb, opens the luggage storage compartment and begins loading people onto the bus.  Then finally, and only after everyone who desires has boarded the bus, he closes the door and drives into New York City.  

Dear Kind Sir,

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for rescuing us from the side of the exit ramp.  You could have driven by, like many other bus drivers, but instead you took it upon yourself to stop.

You are much appreciated, not only for safely delivering us into the city, but for making sure our trip did not start entirely on the wrong foot.

You are truly a good samaritan!

Warmly,
A Very Relieved and Appreciative Passenger/Traveler