Why I love MUNI

I know, I know. There are several reasons why San Franciscans tend to curse MUNI, and complain and whine and so on an so forth. Having lived here for almost 4 years, one would think I would know MUNI better. But before I started commuting via MUNI last week, I really didn't.

Sure, I was grateful for MUNI when going to the ball park, the library or the beach. Even the occaisonal trek to the movies. But I was a tourist. I drove. I still do, drive, but not nearly as much.

So why do I love MUNI? Because I get to read, don't stress out about the crazy SF drivers, and can just sit back and observe.
And boy howdy, there have been things to observe. Here is a list. Most are from MUNI, but I've thrown a few non-MUNI ones in as well.

• Middle school kids are LOUD. No one else on MUNI speaks to one another. Ever.
  First, it was a trio of middle school girls, just out of class. They would shreik every time the lights flashed. Shrieked every time they said the name of (I'm assuming) their crush. LOUD. Next, a gaggle of middle school boys, talking very rapidly in a combination of english, spanish, and pubuescent voice cracks - all punctuated with the bounce of a basketball. LOUD. The MUNI driver shushed them (but not, curiously enough, the girls!) They quieted down until they disembarked, when they went out of their way to annoy the driver, who retorted "HEY, I remember faces, guys." Whoa dude, *scary*. It was quite funny; the rest of my fellow passangers and I were totally (if silently) cheering for the boys.
  
• This morning, as I exited the trolly car, so did three guys. They RAN FULL OUT across the street and down the sidewalk and jumped into some bushes. WHAT? As I walked by, I noticed that the bushes concealed the backdoor to a restaurant. I glanced at my watch. 9:01. They had *just* made it!
  
• My job is located very close to the base of telegraph hill -- under Coit tower. About 3/4 of the way up the hill is a large house. One morning last week I saw the garbage man (waste management specialist, for your PC'ers) descending the stairs. He was about half-way down, and was dragging behind him a rather full recyling bin. Felt bad for the guy, but at least on the way back up the bins are empty.
  
• Because I ride the trolly, not just the normal express buses and so-forth, I get to see a lot of tourists. I love it. I love trying to guess where they are from--before hearing them talk--based on their clothes, accessories (fanny pack? backpack? man purse?) and attitudes. Some might say this makes me judgemental and stereotyping. I prefer to think of it as honing my skills of observation for when I start up my own PI firm. Besides, I appreciate these tourists, and empathize with them. As a traveler, I am familiar with the adrenaline rush that accompanies riding foreign public transportation: a curious mix of trepidation ("Did I miss the stop"), curiousity ("what's that?") , excitement ("Can't wait to get there!) and frustration ("What kind of ticket do I need and why do I have a pocket full of useless centimes ?!!?"). Always an adventure.
  
• Normal MUNI-ite activities: reading, staring, listening to music, sleeping, drooling, foot tapping, talking to oneself (special circumstances), continuous glancing at watch, and
  seat-shifting.
  
• Things MUNI-ites avoid at all costs: eye-contact, talking to fellow passengers, using a cell phone (!), being seen with a map, eating, smiling, flirting and PDA.
  
• I haven't figured out yet why some mornings the bus is super crowded, and other mornings the same bus isn't.