FREEZE FRAME:

        

 

At the time that the “freeze-moment” was called, we were standing in front of a mini-market located on the southwest corner of 7^th Street and Broadway Rd.   This intersection was particularly busy due to some roadwork being completed.  At this moment I found myself observing a city bus and it’s un-boarding passengers.  This is what it's significance was to me. They were all teen-agers, Hispanics, African-American, and Caucasians, all different, yet very much alike.  Each was a student, carrying with them backpacks and books.  For them, this bus was there only means to an education.    Perhaps they could not afford a car, nor had friends with cars, but evidently they weren’t too proud to take the bus.  It didn't seem to matter as long as they attended school.  This made me reflect back to when I was in high school.  I never rode the bus, how lucky was I.  I came to realize how fortunate I was to have friends with cars, and later access to a vehicle of mine own.  This made me  appreciate even more how my dad would have me take him to work every morning, just so that I can have the van.  Back then I was the bus- picking up friends along the way to school.  My dad somehow would always find a ride home, he didn't care as long as I was pleased. I look at these students getting off the bus, and I wonder how many of my friends would have taken the bus to school, had it not been for my dad’s forfeiture of his ride.  Perhaps none of them would have, I know I never did. I realized that we often take for granted how fortunate we are, especially when compared to others less fortunate.  Everyone of these students walked proudly, without a care of other's opinions, as they walked off the bus.  I know that at that time, I surely would have walked cautiously, constantly looking over each shoulder with a sense of embarrassment praying that nobody would recognize me.