Window of Opportunity and Other Random Thoughts on a Bus

On the Way

Forgive me, but I have not ridden the public in a long time.

I used to.  In fact, everyday.   I remember that I liked it. The streets were not too crowded, the weather not as hot, the traffic not as bad.  A younger world.  And I think, a better world.

I would collect my thoughts in those 2-hour long drives from my college to my house.  During the commute, I would have conversations in my head, the role of the antagonist alternating between my mother and my best friend. It is the time when I would get what I thought were my best ideas – for scripts which were a weekly requirement in my course, for my thesis, solutions to problems, awakenings.  I would plan too, the strategies of my life without meaning to.  It is true what others say – there is so much creativity and movement that can go on in one’s mind when one’s hands are not on the wheel (a fuel for the debate of whether to have a car or not to have a car).

But there were also times I found the commute inconvenient, like the time when my wallet was stolen by body-odor-man, his effluvious smell a camouflage for evil thoughts and deeds.  I had to ask other passengers for money to pay my fare that time and it was amazing that people helped.  Another time, I was harassed and pushed to the edge of my seat by a man who was doing something with his hands.  He flew when I took out my rosary (my other hand on an expired pepper spray).

The dangers.

Fast forward to yesterday, 15 years after.  It was raining and there was news of flash-flooding.  Hubby had the brilliant idea of leaving our car somewhere we could not get to without commuting.  I lost count of the number of taxis that refused to take us in, despite the rain, despite my bulging belly – house too near, house too far, flooding, will eat dinner, sorry, not sorry, noses in the air.  I had no choice but to march my pregnant body to 2 blocks away and I was right where I used to be, the wayside, in a route plied by buses I had known so well.

We got in one but there was no available seat (no gentlemen that night).

While standing (swaying) on that bus, I had some thoughts.

The law of supply and demand was at work that night.  High volume of stranded commuters equals less taxis equals desperation equals opportunity for the taxis.

The tables were turned and the balance was shaken in that short interim of time when the heavens fell.  It was a window of opportunity.  The sliver of time that one must look at – to – for – for profit.

The taxicabs knew.

The persons who pushed stranded cars in floodwaters (for a fee) knew.

The merchants selling bottled water and chips in the middle of the streets, hopping from car to car in the traffic, knew.

The persons who sold umbrellas or rain gear to stranded commuters knew.

Window of opportunity. To see what no other man could see, to be bold as to take action at the perfect time, to be ruthless (to take advantage, to strike when others are desperate), to think and do what no other man would dare think and do.

It is not necessarily right, not necessarily wrong, and I do not necessarily subscribe to it.

But it could make the difference for one who wants to get ahead.

Changing the monotony, going out into the world, out of my comfort zone – I kind of knew that taking that bus ride would again lead me to certain insights.

I do not relish the thought – but okay – till the next commute.

Be rich,

Issa

Article by Issa.  Painting by D. Copyright 2010.
website: www.YouWantToBeRich.com
email: issa@youwanttoberich.com

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