My BFF, MAX

I now regularly commute to work on the MAX. Although it requires being ready 30 minutes earlier than if I drove to work, it's worth it. I hate driving my car lately. I park it far away from my apartment downtown so it's inconvenient to use it. I like to challenge myself to figure out alternative ways to get around. Apparently it didn't take me long to return to the Portland roots I left behind almost 7 years ago. Living with the parents in Beaverton made using public transportation a little difficult, but now that I am downtown it's so much easier than driving around.

Last month I was starting work at 5am. The first MAX gets to the airport at 4:45. And the next one isn't until 5:15. So I only have one option. I can't miss the train. I was doing so well until the final week on the dreaded schedule. I was down at the station in enough time but I had a feeling I didn't have my badge on me. So I quickly scanned my backpack. I didn't find it so I ran up the stairs to my apartment. Threw apart my room to look for it. After a minute I decided to check my backpack again. It was in there the whole time. So I flew back down the stairs. Ran to the stop only to see the back of the train already gone. My instincts kicked in and I started to run. See here's the thing. The weekend before that I had decided instead of driving home in rush hour traffic I was going to leave my car parked at the airport and take the MAX instead. It seemed like a great idea until this moment. Of course I had to miss the train on a morning when my car wasn't parked downtown. After running through downtown unsuccessfully I walked up to a parked cab, bartered my way down to a $20 ride instead of $35. After that I swore I would never leave my car at the airport.

I love my commute though. The crazy things I see every day keep me coming back. Exhibit A:

How did you forget that you weren't wearing your shoes anymore?

I do have one suggestion for TriMet. Everyone riding should be required to be clean and smell good. I'm just saying...