Train Rides To Westwood

Article 001.

Fall, officially in 2 days. Yet the temps have gone significantly lower the past week. It still gets warm in the middle of the day but it’s that cool heat and not the burning humid kind. I had to bring out the light jacket and even a hoodie to do my hybrid two-day-in-the-office commute to Westwood. I resisted the urge to lose the sunglasses on my train ride to El Segundo early in the morning even when there’s an overcast. Its purpose really is to give me privacy as I sneak in some shut eye. I still wear a mask, honestly because it really makes a significant difference in shielding your nose buds from the foul smell that comes with the ride. And not because I am protecting myself from catching the flu or Covid, but in a sense, serves that purpose anyway. I hop in on the east side beginning of the Green Line station at Norwalk, thank goodness, so I at least get dibs on the seat that I want. You are guaranteed at least one hobo occupying two seats either sitting or lying down in a weird angle. The smell you just have to brave it or to reiterate, mask up just for that purpose alone.

As we traverse the 105, I’m literally gone. Wouldn’t even make the next station. My eyes would just simply fade into the dark. I would occasionally be rattled, more annoyed, every time the doors open for the next station, but nothing that would kick me out of my trance. It’s a good 20-min nap over-all, not too shabby. I get off at Aviation/LAX station and I’m borderline gonna miss my stop someday with the naps getting really cozy and deeper. For now, I need not worry as the train ends there until the succeeding stations are done with renovation. I walk down to the bus station and go to the area where it’s marked Culver City Bus 6/Rapid Bus 6. This line’s route is 90% along Sepulveda and Bus 6 has a stop for every two blocks. The R6 on the other hand is the way to go. Less than half of the stops plus a driver that is GTA-approved. These buses are old and I tell you now, they are filthy. Filthier than the train and Culver City needs to up their ante when it comes to sanitation. The Big Blue Buses are not as gross. Rode on them on a few occasions. I just can’t wait for them to go electric which means new buses altogether and hopefully a lot sooner than what their ads say which is by 2028.

The most interesting part of the trip really are the daily people that comprises this gridlock during rush hour. The minimum wage earners, the students, the weirdos. From the you-don’t-look-like-you-should-be-on-this-bus to the please-go-get-another-ride-somewhere-else type of people. It actually brings me back to my roots, how my life used to be minimal. I see these characters and I am reminded how blessed I am. How I get to ride my fancy car every day and how I get to wear nice clothes— although I do dress down if I am doing public transport. Truthfully, every time I ride the train and bus, it is a humbling experience. So if you are one of those who doesn’t do this on a regular basis, consider yourself lucky. Your perspective of life is so naïve, or at some point you’ve lost grip of your beginnings or worse, have no clue that such a world exists.

I think it was about a month ago when Taylor Swift was having her concert at Sofi Stadium and one of the cheapest means to get to the venue was to take the train, get off at Lennox and take the transfer bus. I was on the way home when a swarm of Swifties took over the train. The hobos were outnumbered and most of them got off as they couldn’t handle the sudden surge of euphoria. I chuckled. Should I be happy they booted out the underprivileged? I guess it’s me, I’m the problem, it’s me.

Soon to be Aviation/Imperial!