What’s the worst travel experience you’ve ever had?

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You know I’ve often joked with one of my best friends that it should be written on our tombstones that the majority of our adult life has been based on Para Transpo. I’ve used the service since I was a teenager, (I think I may have used it when I was very young too but I don’t remember that,) and every day since we finished high school, I’ve had issues with the service for one reason or another. These issues range from long wait times on hold to book trips to the vehicles showing up late and sometimes there’s even issues with some drivers that I’ve had. Each problem I’ve had has been brought to mom’s attention and she basically says to deal with it as she cannot drive me everywhere and that at least I’m getting a ride. There was one point when she was in the hospital dealing with cancer that I had an issue with one of their taxi drivers. I wasn’t in the mood to even be going out that day because of mom’s circumstance but the issue ended with me cussing out the driver. The problem was that this was done with my stepfather present. I was heading to a Wrestling event with my friend and his father. Though my stepfather never addressed the issue he had with this to me, he told my mother about it while she was under the influence of medication. She called me the next day. Unwilling to listen to any of my complaints due to her situation, (with good reason,) and having dealt with numerous complaints from me in previous years, she started the conversation by saying she wanted me to get rid of my service with them. Despite me trying to address my part in the situation, she simply said something to the effect of, “I don’t want to hear it.” This may not be what she said exactly. It was two years ago but it was something along those lines. Anyway, I never actually did that and I still use para to this day. However, her words really stuck with me that time and anytime I’m faced with a potential complaint about them for any reason, I remember what mom said on that day. It seemed like just her normal response to the complaint but for some reason, I actually felt the emotion. I think this is because I just realized after all these years that without para, I would never get anywhere and would be stuck. I realize that I would be lost without it and I would actually feel disabled. I would lose part of my independence. With that in mind, every bad situation I find myself in with them is pretty much overlooked and accepted because I know that it could be worse. I think to myself, “if I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t have a life worth living.” I think about all the places I’ve gone and all the things I’ve accomplished over the years because of the use of their service and it makes me appreciate having it. I think this was mom’s intention in saying those words to me that day. She wasn’t punishing me despite the words seeming harsh. It was a wake up call to me as a reminder of what life could be like if I didn’t have use of it. It was her way of showing me how much of a blessing that service is and that it shouldn’t be taken for granted. Face it, I’m lucky to have it. I was taught a lesson through those words from mom and that lesson was that no matter how bad the service is that I receive sometimes, at least I still have it. It would be impossible to live if I didn’t have it.

Now I would think that my best friend, (who is actually my stepbrother,) is at the point with para that I was before I was given that harsh lecture from mom. Up until that point, he had just accepted it when things didn’t work with them. Over the years, he’s had about the same amount of issues I’ve had with them for pretty much the same reasons. The most notable of these issues occurred just recently on Thanksgiving Sunday when he came over to my house and his return bus ended up being almost two hours late. Each time he checked his app and it wasn’t assigned yet, he got mad and said different variations of “This is ridiculous” while following up by saying that they need a better service and that they shouldn’t be allowed to do that, ETC. For a little while, I felt like I was in mom’s shoes with my stepbrother acting the way I used to, (though he is much calmer in situations that upset him than I am,) and me trying to reassure him that it could be worse just like mom did for me that day when she told me to get rid of them. I tell him that at least he has them while trying to address why the bus may be so late. I tell him, “it’s a holiday and they may not have a lot of drivers,” ETC while ending by saying that if he doesn’t want to use it , then he shouldn’t use it. This is what mom used to tell me prior to her cancer diagnosis. The conversation tends to calm him down. I just realized now that mom was responsible for setting us straight with para. I guess moms really do know what’s best because as far as I’m concerned, para is not a burden anymore. It’s a blessing. It’s a way of life for me and a means of independence. The moral of this story isn’t that fact though. It’s who was responsible for making me understand how good I really have it with them. Mom was the one who helped me understand the luxury of para and now it’s a service I love. Just like everything else, I have mom to thank for the way I feel right now. Well maybe not the way I feel physically because at the time of this writing, I’m fighting what’s assumed to be allergies but may be a cold. I have a runny nose and watery eyes and I’m sneezing a lot. Mom obviously didn’t cause this to happen unless I caught it from her. However, I am appreciative of the fact that she opened my eyes to the big picture and showed me that life without para could be much worse.

By Jefferson Bert