The Summer of Wolves

          At least we got on the bus out of Knoxville without a problem. Though Brian and I were on different itineraries somehow, the ticket lady there said, "Just stay on the bus." We headed for Charlottesville, VA with the reassuring feeling that home was closer, if only a little. By this point I'd called home and contacted Bank of America to cancel my debit card. In Charlottesville, Nora left us after debating which way to go and we stayed on the bus to Richmond. There, I was gouged out of $20 for a ticket reissue which should have been done properly at a previous stop. The station in Richmond was chaos, and we were certain we wouldn't be on the next bus because 40+ people were ahead of us in ticket number, but three buses were appropriated for us. This was the first time I was impressed with Greyhound since the beginning of our trip. Our driver was a boss as well, a very nice man considering all the nasty people he was dealing with. (Some lady was flipping out because she couldn't share a seat with a person, even though they were going to the same station.) From Richmond it would be a straight shot to New York City, and my spirits lifted when we pulled out of the station. This is my goodbye to the South; may it have a long, prosperous absence from my life.
          We stopped at that Maryland rest stop and satisfied our Pizza Hut craving, and the rest of the ride to New York was peaceful for me. Not so for Brian, who had to deal with a very talkative man in the next seat; this guy never stopped talking, but he was a mumbler as well, so everything he said had to be repeated or ignored. In Port Authority, the baggage guy tried to gyp us again. This time, we got smart and rebuffed his "services." We met a Bonnaroovian in line for the bus to Kingston who turned out to be Nicole's boyfriend, and within an hour we were headed home at last. On the bus, some lady was prattling loudly on her cell phone about wardrobe choices for a stage production. Another passenger politely but tersely put her in her place, I exclaimed, "Preach," and all was right with the world. Soon enough, we were home.
          Quote of the day:
"This wolf pack stays small." - me