I think I
definitely caught the mega million lotto bug this week for sure people. I
actually made a couple of trips to the local bodega and bought what I knew for
sure to be the winning tickets only to wake up to the disappointing news, “You
Are Not the Winner”. I mean a percentage of the $500 million would have
sufficed but hey what is a BRAVEHEART like me to do but to keep on trying and
go after the next jackpot. I did hear someone in Missouri took the prize, I
think I am happy for them but SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEIT I would have been two stepping
all over my living room floor if the outcome was in my favor. So now that I am
getting a better understanding of the whole lotto bonanza am calling it early
now people, I will be taking home a jackpot at some point in 2013. WATCH…WATCH.
Ok people; Let me get focused…
I
normally drive to and from work everyday in the DMV. I mean to be honest I
drive to anywhere and everywhere pretty much and I love it. Today though I took
public transit and was on the train and all I could think about was if only
Nigeria one day could grow its infrastructure to the point that public transit
back home in Lagos can be looked upon as an asset not a death sentence for
people. I revisited so many fun childhood memories today riding the train; like
when my brother and I would run down the big yellow DANFO buses in our school
uniform and sandals to make it to the morning assembly just in time to avoid
that whipping in front of the student body and on our return leg home we would
hop on buses with no bus fare in our pockets only hoping to be saved by an
adult that would allow for us to sit on their lap. NWO! Nigeria the land of the
infamous “No LAPPING o” SMH.
Seriously
my experience today riding the train was a much needed respite. It was so
peaceful that I took the opportunity to walk a d**m near mile home after
getting off at my stop in the freezing cold weather outside. The reality of
public transit in Nigeria is a combination of the zoo, circus and everything in
between. Nothing is ever civil amongst patrons. The hustle and bustle of it all
just wears on you. I mean you could leave your house clean, fresh to death
looking like a million bucks but by the time to make it to your destination you
look a hot tired mess in part because of hostile and highly aggressive climate
you find yourself in during the commute.
Sitting
in front of me on the train this morning was a young aged school boy with his
backpack. He seemed at peace and reserved as he was commuting by his lonesome
with not a visible concern or worry that I could detect. For an instant, I
thought about all the young aged school boys and girls that never get to
experience this level of calm and tranquility on there morning travel to school
back home. The idea of being able to get on a bus or train in en route to
school and only have to focus on academics should not be viewed upon as a
luxury and exception to the rule but the standard. I don’t know the last time
anybody got on a bus in Nigeria and witnessed people just reading newspapers,
listening to iPods or conversing in a civil non-threatening manner. Your
typical public transit commute in Nigeria will routinely have some type of
mechanical failure or tire malfunction, fumes and spoke pumping out the exhaust
into the atmosphere and like two to three passengers dangling on the door step
all the way to the final destination.
I can
only wish
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment