The 71 Bus was my Best Friend

When I first moved to Massachusetts, I lived right by Watertown Square. The only person I knew was Matt and some of his coworkers. I didn’t work for the first few months, either. It took me a few months to really make my own friends. So needless to say, I was bored at first.

Not only was I bored, but I was scared to death of driving in the Boston area. Now I drive with the best of ‘em (or the worst, depending on how ya look at it!) - I inch in front of people to get in front of them in slow moving traffic, my reflexes are fast enough that I can pound my hand on the horn as soon as someone makes me angry, and driving through a rotary has become a way of life for me. But initially, I was so scared that the only place I’d really drive was to the supermarket, and those were always interesting experiences.

And so, I’d take the 71 bus to Harvard Square. Often. I’d stand outside of Vito’s Pizza (and sometimes go to the icky convenience store next door to it to get an ice cream sandwich on a hot day) and wait for the bus. I’d sit towards the back so I could watch all of the people go in and out. I’d listen in on conversations. And then, when the bus pulled into Harvard Station, I’d walk off the bus and breathe in the unique Harvard Station odor: Dunkin Donuts, popcorn, and bus fumes.

It was gross, but always comforting.

I didn’t really have much to do in Harvard Square, really. Sometimes I’d hop on the red line and go to Davis Square or towards downtown. Other times I’d just wander around Harvard Square. I’d go to the Harvard Bookstore. I’d sift through the remainders and used books. (This, of course, was before I became enamoured with the local libraries) Sometimes I’d get a snack somewhere. I’d usually end up going to Little Tibet to get a skirt. Going there made me feel like I had a life, and it was a little escape from the house we lived in where we had to listen to the neighbors fight ’round the clock.

A couple months later, once I had a decent sized group of my own friends, I’d often wind up meeting them at Harvard Square since it was sort of a central point to meet. I’d get off the 71 bus and say to myself, as I breathed in the disgusting concoction of Harvard station smells, “I’m going to meet my friends! MY friends! I have friends now! I have my own friends!”

Since I’ve moved to Newton, I realized that the best way for me to get to Harvard Square is to drive to Coolidge Square and leave my car by DTD, and catch the 71 bus the rest of the way. That way I don’t need to look for parking in Harvard Square. Searching for parking in Harvard Square makes my heart palpitate.

On Wednesday, I went to meet some friends for dinner at Bombay Club (and allow me to rave about their chicken saag - I love all that is saag!) and taking the 71 bus brought me a feeling of comfort. It had been the first time I took it in a while, and it felt like I was visiting an old friend. Especially after I exited the bus and smelled the Dunkin Donuts, popcorn, and exhaust fumes.

Filed under Greater Boston (General), Greater Boston Restaurants, My Life, Uncategorized |