Farewell 40 (for now)

Some things just grow on you. This is a little different than doing what's right even though you don't want to. I'm not talking about eating your veggies. No, this is about learning to see beauty in the blemished.

The infamous 40, bane of many a bus operator mostly because of an impossible schedule during certain hours of the day, certainly reminded me of this concept. Now that I'm no longer on the 40 and can look at it a bit more objectively it occurs to me that I actually miss the chaotic fury it carried me through. Fortunately, my new routes bring similar mind-numbing action so I can cope with the loss.

Being a Broward native, virtually every route has some connection to my life at various stages. The 40 goes right by Broward General, where my journey began, and also Sunset Memorial Gardens, where it'll probably end. In between is the stuff of Life. I miss the familiar regulars, the views from 17th St bridge, Swap Shop people, BBQs on Sistrunk, Outcast Ryders MC, and threading the bus through the Eye of the Needle by the county courthouse.

The last day on the 40 was typical of the previous runs. A Sunday morning run, for the most part an unrushed piece, except for the first trip out of the Hill, and regular lane closures on A1A for special events.

"My favorite driver - announcing driver - only announcing driver," was the cheery greeting I received from a regular, a homeless gentleman who without fail kept his luggage protected in heavy duty black plastic garbage bags. Sometimes the onboard announcer isn't working so if the PA system is functional I take to the mic and announce the time points and points of interest. Apparently most drivers don't offer this service, since I've received numerous comments about how unusual it is. To me it's a joy and honor to call out these names that are part of me.
Sunrise> World Famous Swap Shop> African American Research Library> Central Terminal> Main Library> Courthouse> Broward General> US 1> Port Everglades> Las Olas> Galleria

At the Galleria another regular awaits, also homeless, with the pungent ripeness of living rough. Sociable and refined in speech, he presents a more pragmatic presence than the previous passenger. Initial small talk about the weather makes way for headier topics such as current events, mass transit, and various occupations. On a different day, he made a wry joke about doing card tricks, and I think I caught him off guard when I presented him with a fresh deck and asked for a lesson.

At the Port a tourist explains he'll only pay the senior fare since he's "55 plus" and offers to show me his passport. I welcome him to Broward County and let him ride.

Every Sunday at 11 a.m. there is a looong line waiting for the doors to open at Tap 42, across from the hospital. It makes for an unlikely hot spot in an area still sleeping at that hour. Today it's doubly long. BBQ?

As we roll along Sistrunk, a woman sitting on a bus bench up ahead spots us, hurriedly grabs an armful of belongings off the bench, and does a modified bicycle kick to flag the bus. I can't say it's the first time I've stopped for legs, but it's the first time I've been stopped by them.

At the Hill, a lady puts some coins in the farebox, and one of them is rejected. She sees it's a foreign coin so naturally tosses it behind her onto the bus platform.

At the Central Terminal we pick up the smiling face of a newcomer from Jamaica by way of Boston. This guy has class and is bringing back the lost art of nice hats.

Near the end of my shift I pull into a stop for a recognizable regular. She's a young lady whose speech belies some level of learning disability, along with physical limitations. In spite of this she's kind of an inspiration because she doesn't let it paralyze her or render her inactive. She always has a smile for me and I ask if she had a good time at church, but today she's not smiling. She tells me another driver didn't lower the bus for her and slammed the door in her face when she didn't move fast enough. Now, I wasn't there so I can't vouch for her accusation, but there's no denying she's hurt and upset. It sickens me to see this sweet person, normally sociable and bright, down in the dumps due to mistreatment when we should all be looking out for her and assisting her as much as possible. She's counting on us to do our part, and it's not good for her to just be standing out on the streets any longer than necessary. Fortunately she's ok and this time it's more of an inconvenience than anything. I lower the bus for her.

Note: this pick you can find me on the 10, 50, 60, 72 and 595 Express. All over town on my tours of duty, hope to see you out there.

Regular day off

Like most jobs out there, bus driving offers its workers a couple days off during the week. Rarely are they on the weekend, so our 'weekend' may actually be in the middle of the week. I usually sign up for extra work on at least one of those days to get in some overtime. Plus, I love being behind the wheel and it just feels weird when I'm not constantly on the move. Working on my off days is quite unlike a regular day. First of all, it's usually a run I'm not necessarily familiar with, could be a split shift, or nothing but express runs. Then again, it may be all too familiar since it may be one of my regular routes, but it wears a cloak of mystery since I'm seeing the same thing from a different angle.

One such day I worked a split shift, which involved a few hours on the 88, then a few more on the 10. Now the 88 runs up and down Pine Island Road, except for the section of road in Coral Springs, conveniently named Coral Springs Drive. This route is generally lightly traveled, other than twice a day when the rush to and from the six school zones it services is in effect. So the more leisurely aspect of the route make it enticing to senior drivers, and it's heavily used by young people. This particular day was drizzly and overcast, which meant even lighter use than usual. I can see how regular drivers on this route could get to know most of the regulars. In other words, the complete opposite of the 441 Breeze.

"Buh pah" was all I heard from the voice behind the little hand reaching up to me from below. No more than 3 years old, his cool comic-con mom deciphered the syllables for me.
"Another driver gave him a bus pass once and now he asks every time he gets on the bus!" she explained.
As we rolled along, she explained basic bus etiquette to him such as not running around the bus while it's in motion and when to pull the stop request cord. It's always great to see the youngest ones among us getting an early education on how to use mass transit.

And so that morning on the 88 went, uneventful overall. Then came time for the afternoon piece: the 10. Let me just say I love the 10. It's been a mainstay at least one day of my work week for a long time, though all my other routes get changed when we make our picks. The route itself is nothing exciting, only deviating from US 1 at the north and south ends. But the trip from one end to the other is a sort of anthropological archaeology, or as a supervisor put it "A sociological lesson in life."

I should have known this wouldn't be just another afternoon on the 10 when the bus showed up to the relief point almost 20 minutes late. Any longer and my follower would be on my tail so I adjusted the mirrors and booked it, noticing the bus was loaded. A few miles up the road we made a routine stop request when who should bound by me as he exited the front door, but my favorite German bus fan. Hadn't seen him for awhile since he tended to be on the 10 only at a certain time when I drove it on a different day.
"You punishment! You naughty boy on weekend!" was how he both greeted and said goodbye this time.
No, he wasn't referring to some off-duty debauchery, but rather it was the continuation of a long-running joke regarding whatever bus I'm driving at the moment. Being a bus fan, he's quite knowledgeable about the buses themselves. In this case the bus was nearing the end of its service life, almost an antique. The opposite of the newer model I used to drive when I picked him up regularly. So whenever he sees me in an old bus he jokes I'm being punished for misconduct. The levity is most welcome as I wave farewell.

By the time we finished that trip and arrived at the north end layover, we weren't much better off time-wise. A large group awaited and let me know in clear terms that they were displeased with the delay. It doesn't do any good to explain the reason we're late since that won't fix the issue, so I offer up sincere apologies and keep it moving. Waiting among the crowd, as irate as the rest but for different reasons, is a local legend on the 10. It's the one and only Patty, or the one I used to call Patty till she said that's no longer her name. Claiming previous drivers wouldn't let her board, she was determined to make this bus so I kneeled the bus and in she came. Once seated, she immediately went off on another homeless woman seated directly across from her, claiming the woman's rolling luggage was hogging the aisle. The woman decided not to stay for this treatment and exited. This seemed to satisfy her and she switched into sweet-talk mode, complimenting two homeless men who boarded. Then her attention turned to me.
"Bus driver, you need to take me to a hotel." Bear in mind nothing she says is meant for my ears only, everything is at top volume and everyone on the bus can hear it.
"There's a hotel, baby" she continued. I can only smile, call her a sweet-talker, and let her go on.
"Hey Stanley, wanna shave my head this weekend?" she calls out to one of the earlier men she recognized.

Shortly before she exits at the south end, a young man boards. He looks familiar but I hesitate because I'm unsure. He's wearing a yellow safety vest and wants to start a revolution, not the kind that causes chaos but fixes it. His idea is a Rescue Team, a do-good army to fix the world's woes such as transporting water to the drought areas of California. He says the media focuses on bad news the way a parent focuses on a bad child wanting attention.
"I can't do it alone, so I talk to everyone about it to plant seeds. I can't do much, so today I'll start with a haircut."

Just another regular day off.

Blessed and highly favored

In previous posts, it was the multiple-personality 40 that vexed me on a regular basis. This time around it's the limited-stop 441 Breeze. One of the system's longer routes, it reaches from Coral Springs in north Broward to the Golden Glades park & ride in north Dade, at least an hour and a half from end to end. It is a good way to see the heart of Broward County, from the manicured north in Coconut Creek to the gritty south as it transitions from Hollywood and on into Dade County.

The Breeze stops running earlier than the regular-stop routes, though could probably stand to run a bit longer since this is one of the busier lines in the system. From the time I relieve the previous driver to the time I go out of service, it's a non-stop effort to never stop moving forward. Being a limited stop service, the Breeze has more options for keeping it moving by switching lanes regularly if enough space opens up to tuck in a 60 foot articulated bus. This gets tricky during the chaotic rush hours, when certain sections of 441 are bumper to bumper for miles.

The driving skills required to make the route work are an exciting challenge, but it's the people that bring the most reward. All of my 'favorite' routes share that characteristic, and the only downside in this case is that the relentless pace of the Breeze limits lengthier interactions. Even so, when pretension is not an issue and the comfort level is there, equal hearts can connect.

An older gentleman who boarded at Golden Glades asks me to let him know when we get close to his stop, in north Broward. This is usually tough to keep track of due to the countless similar requests that come my way, but we're getting close and he stands close by to look for familiar landmarks. A Bahamian who left the islands long ago for more opportunity, he's traveling to visit his grown daughter this day. A driver himself in younger days, he emphasizes that driving a bus is "no joke" and he'll "leave it to the young guys". He loves the newer model bus we're using today and says it feels like he's flying in an airplane.

At one stop, a wide-eyed young man boards nervously and comments that the area we're in is scary. This interests me since it's a relatively benign area. I ask where's he's from, expecting him to mention a gated community somewhere. "Brooklyn" he replies.

Down in Hollywood, another guy is sharing his thoughts on current events, commercialized holidays, and various other ills. He makes a prophecy concerning the Russia-Turkey conflict: Ethiopia will get involved. It's in the Bible, and he'll bet $100 on it.

A fashionable lady with a braided bun boards, and her long pointed nails attract my attention. When I tell her they're nice, she runs them lightly across my leg. Surprised, I tell her she's bad - and she agrees.

On my last trip northbound, a young man steps out of the darkness flashing a big toothy smile. He can't be contained, he's so excited.
"I'm ready to drive, man, I put in my application to be a bus driver!"
These guys are the best, hopeful and eager to be in my seat. I encourage him to pursue his dream and don't give up.

Two middle age women are having a semi-religious discussion in the front seats. One of them had to travel out of state recently for some time. She returned to find her Bible, with tithe money inside still intact, and called it a blessing.

On a different day, pick up a young mother with two little ones at Golden Glades. With all sincerity, she explains how she left her purse at work and doesn't have fare for the youngest. He meets the criteria for a free trip anyway, so no problem. Later on, I look in the cabin mirror to see her holding some cash. A woman who just exited gave it to her, out of the blue. "I know God is good to me" she says with wondrous confidence.

At Commercial Blvd, a sizable group of day laborers awaits to board, covered in paint splatter, drywall dust, and stale sweat.
"What you need to do is find one good thing to do for people. You know we're all in the same situation. Everyone on this bus is in the same situation." The conversation between two coworkers that began at the bus stop continues as they board and swipe their passes.

Much later, nearing the end of my run, I look in the cabin mirror and see a familiar face. Can't remember where he boarded since the sheer volume of the ridership tends to blur such details unless I take note. But I always remember when he boards since he has a definite greeting. I used to ask him how it's going, and he'd reply with "Blessed and highly favored." Now I beat him to it and ask if he's blessed and highly favored today. Always greeting me with a "Ya mon" in a light island accent, thick plaits spilling out from a skully, this cheers me up for some reason, no matter what's going on around us. As we approach the final stop of the night, the bus annunciator gives its final message: "Route finished. Thank you." My blessed friend is quick to disagree with the disembodied voice, calling out a message of his own: "I'm not finished, I'm just getting started!"

A certain slant of light

"Route 36 to Galt Mile," the on board annunciator chimes out each time the doors are opened. The curbside destination sign also reads Galt Mile. This all creates a little confusion for passengers since the 36 no longer goes to Galt Mile during heavy road construction on that stretch of A1A. Now we turn around at the beach end of Sunrise Blvd, and those heading north can transfer to route 11. There was a little confusion when the service change began and regulars soon caught on, though the technology hasn't.

This pick I drive the 36 on Saturday mornings. Since Daylight Saving Time ended last month, I still deadhead to my starting point at Sawgrass Mills in darkness, but head east with the rising sun. It is a stunning spectacle showcasing the power of light bringing the world to life. As we head over the 95 overpass, downtown is spread before us, illuminated by the sun peeking through a variety of clouds.

This is my easy piece of the week. The schedule has enough extra time built in that I actually hope for various time-eaters along the way to keep us from running hot. Wheelchair passengers are always welcome any day of the week, though the slower pace of a Saturday morning means I get to roll out the royal treatment by being precise about where the ramp will come down, kneeling low to the curb, and making sure they're secured if so requested. Then there's the FEC RR. The lights start flashing, the arms start dropping and we're stuck at the tracks. Four engines crawl by and we know this is gonna be a looong one. No problem, we got time. As a child, I used to count the cars for fun, often there'd be over 100. In those days, I vaguely recall there being a caboose at the end, not necessarily a red one, but still one nonetheless. I don't see cabooses on trains anymore. More often than not, people complain about the long train. I give the same answer as when they complain about cockroaches: It was here first. Like the natural rivers many confuse with man-made canals, the railroad is a vein of thriving life through the hearts of our eastern cities, an immovable highway connecting past and present.

Today we're on the 36, where we can see the great dichotomies of our community, the razor-thin margins separating luxury from poverty. On the east end is the Galleria, a gilt elephant for wealthy locals & visitors. At the west end is Sawgrass Mills, which seeks to wow patrons with its sheer size. In between we have the Swap Shop, with its endless dark alleys of hidden treasures.

A1A> Intracoastal> Galleria> Holiday Park> Searstown> Andrews> Powerline> Sunland Park> Dillard High> Swap Shop> Lauderhill Mall> Deepside> Sunset Strip> Plantation High> University> Sawgrass Mills

"Good morning, Boss Man! How are you this morning?" This is a regular, a young man dressed quite dapper in beige suit and tie. Always a beaming smile, a quick yet steady movement from entry to seat. His enthusiasm rubs off and I return the greeting and call him "Mister" even though he looks about 20. Any young person who takes the time to look like a future professor deserves a respectable greeting. And is he from the eastside, or the posh western suburbs? Nope, from the heart of Deepside, in clear contrast to the influences around him. Thank you, Mister.

"Do you meditate?" an older woman exiting at the Hill asks me. Maybe I present an introspective figure on these slow morns. She's an older woman with ink in fonts and locations typical of the neighborhood.
"I do sometimes" I respond, explaining how it's good for keeping stress at bay.
"God bless you" she whispers in a grateful tone, eyes piercing to the core. Her children are causing her grief and she's drained. Her hand rests gently on mine and I cover it with my other, encourage her to hang in there and stay strong.

While at the Hill, a man in work clothes and ski cap approaches. He's seems familiar with me, but with the headwear it takes me a minute to recognize him as a familiar face from earlier this year. He used to board with a fishing pole and try as I might, he'd never reveal his best fishing spots to me. Now he's set aside the fishing and is focusing on golf. Gives me some basic golf tips for beginners, and says he's recently returned from being out of town for work. He's generally reserved, but today he's open and has some thoughtful insights. Perhaps fatigue has loosened him up, since he seems tired and later on he appears to be dozing on the bus.

Near the transfer station, a young man with a megaphone is calling all listeners to repentance and to love one another.

After leaving the Hill, a group of ladies with folding carts boards. This is not unusual when we service the Swap Shop, but this is the stop near Lauderhill High and the carts are loaded with frozen turkeys and other Thanksgiving fixins being given out at the school. The line wraps around the building.

On another eastbound trip, I see a long lost friend. She just got off another bus and is rushing to mine as I pull into the stop. She's dragging two large garbage bags (clothes?) and she looks exhausted. As she boards, she's sure to swipe her pass, but doesn't look up at the driver. Still in her security guard uniform, her hair slightly mussed, and dazed stare all let me know that this lady's been working all night and is in a rush to get home. When I drove the 36 nights back in the spring, I'd pick her up and hear about her plans to work hard and make a good life for her baby. Now it's winter and it's clear she's kept her vow, finding the will to keep moving through the exhaustion. When she exited, the light inside her shone again, as she wished us a good day. These are the strong ones, spending of themselves to the last, the strength of character outlasting the frailty of body.

Work of art

Twice a week I drive a split shift, which means I drive one route in the morning, get a break for a couple hours and return to do another route into the early evening. I start with a 595 Express run from the BB&T Center to Brickell in downtown Miami. Yes, Broward Transit also services Miami. One good thing about this route is it gives me a chance to see all the changes which never cease in the Magic City without actually having to live there. It's a dynamic place constantly reinventing itself while struggling to respect its ancient history. So in a way the bus becomes a time machine as we roll down Brickell Ave.

Which brings up one bad thing about the route: Miami traffic. I jokingly say there is nothing 'express' about these runs since the designated express lanes on the highway are usually a parking lot by the time I make the drive down there. They're certainly better than the paralyzed gridlock on the local lanes for the most part, but only slightly. One recent rainy morning the traffic was more horrific than usual, and the express lanes were posted as closed to traffic. It is county policy that buses do not enter these lanes when posted as closed, and in fact drivers can be ticketed by FHP for failing to observe this. Nevertheless, we carry on through the grueling 20 mile parking lot and deliver everyone safely to their destination - 40 minutes late. One passenger, upset about the lateness, asks why I didn't use the express lanes. I explain the policy, but it seems he wants to use the express lanes no matter what - even though we would've been later had we used them. Fortunately the majority of the other passengers, mostly regulars, understand the nature of the commute and thank me as they exit. One woman needed help with an address, I was able to direct her, and received voluminous thanks and a radiant smile to ease the stress of the trip. Always a good way to end a trip before switching the headsign to Not In Service.

While deadheading back to the garage, I could see numerous tents set up in Wynwood for Art Basel events, and wondered what new masterpieces were being sprayed up this year. The reach of the festival is long, and would touch me again before the day was out.

The second piece of the split shift is the 441 Breeze, an exciting journey from Turtle Creek in Coral Springs to the Golden Glades Park & Ride in north Miami. This route is all about sheer volume and speed. It's the only route where I need an artic (bendy) bus. The whole spectrum of society rides this route and it never gets boring. One woman coming up from Dade and unfamiliar with Broward needs help with an address for the wake of a friend. She commented on how built up Broward is, and I joked that maybe she expected flowery meadows. With the sun down and the bus's lights turned low to reduce windshield glare, she nervously noted how dark the rear of the 60-foot bus looked and how "I gotta stop watching horror movies."

Earlier on a previous trip a young Jamaican man with a particular pungent herbal aroma boarded in a yellow Lion of Judah jersey wearing headphones and reciting random reggae lines. He's looking for a certain department store, but the Breeze doesn't stop there since it's a limited stop route. When he realizes he's on the Breeze and not the 19 which makes local stops, he mutters a calm "Bumbaclot" to himself, then a "Give thanks" when I told him we stop just across the street. As he exited, we fist-bumped and he offered up another "Give thanks."

Finally, my last trip of the day. Northbound and there is no longer the rush of previous trips. We don't want to miss anyone since the Breeze doesn't run very late and I relish counting down the stops:
Oakland Park>41st St>Commercial>Kimberly>Southgate>Atlantic>Coconut Creek>Copans> and as we approached Sample, the stop before the end of the line, I wondered who might be left on the bus. In the reflection of the windshield, I could see a pair of women's feet in slippers. Not wanting to turn around while moving, I figured I'd assess the cabin when we came to a stop. At the stop, anyone left on the bus exited, including the owner of the feet - a beautiful young blonde woman. In what I took to be a Russian accent, she approached and said she had a gift for me, while reaching into a tote bag. Secretly hoping it was her phone number, instead she pulled out a small brown paper container. She said it was a meat sandwich* she got at Arby's. That's what I thought I heard through the cute accent, and repeated it to her. She spoke again: "Artbase, the festival in Miami". For some reason it still didn't register in my mind what she was saying. Maybe I was distracted by other things. Later on, while heading back to the garage I realized she was saying Art Basel in her own inflection, I just didn't make the connection. Still, it was nice to end the second shift the way the first one ended: with a pleasant face smiling back.

---

*Curiously, the week before on the same route, a Vietnamese man carrying a pail full of spicy-smelling sandwiches also gave me one.


And while we're on art, some time ago I purchased this colorful piece directly from the artist, at Central Terminal:

Good things will grow

The 40 seems to be the route that keeps on giving. Perhaps because it traverses such a broad section of the county, unlike the other routes I'm driving this pick. It seems like a lot of my recent posts are about experiences on the 40. Yes, I do other routes each week too, but they tend to be straight-shot routes that generally adhere to a single major thoroughfare.

10 - Miles and miles along a single street (US 1) until we turn at the north and south ends.
36 - A steady trek along Sunrise from one side of the county to the other; from the waves to the glades with a side trip through Deepside.
441 Breeze - A hectic, fast-paced bullet ride from north Broward to north Dade 99.9% on US 441/SR 7.

Like I've mentioned before, the 40 has many faces so I hesitate to label it. It's not strictly a neighborhood route since it also spends half the trip on 17th St and A1A. And any ideas that it might be catering to cruise ship visitors or beachgoers are quickly dispelled once we head west of Central Terminal. The best part is that no matter which segment you're on, passengers are very likely to be be sociable, inquisitive, and surprising.

This pick I drive the first 40 eastbound from Lauderhill Mall. I make the turn onto 12th Street with the empty bus and can see a few people milling about on the boarding platform. As I get closer, more people emerge from the bus shelters and from various spots further down the platform. By the time I pull into the bay, the pad is covered and everyone's anxious to board. We're scheduled to pull out of the mall at 7:40 am on Sunday mornings. By that time, the other connecting routes have already arrived multiple times. People need to get to work and church, so of course the first 40 is going to see heavy usage. If the route didn't have to enter the mall or Central Terminal, an artic bus would be the way to go since we'll have a standing load within 10 minutes of pullout, and we still haven't serviced Sistrunk, which is when it gets really tight. Fortunately that initial intensity is relieved once we reach Central Terminal and most regulars know this so they're patient during the momentary discomfort. Also while everyone naturally wants to claim one of the limited seats available, they're also routinely accommodating when a wheelchair passenger boards or an elderly person needs a seat. This is the route where people drop their pretensions and do their good deed for the day.

We're eastbound on Sistrunk, crossing 9th Ave. I can see a young man, maybe 30, on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. He's looking around curiously, sees the bus, and rushes across to the bus stop. As he boards, he's visibly sweating and flustered as he struggles to find his fare and slide a crumpled bill in the box. There's a vibe of anxiety here, and he hurriedly finds a seat. The bus is quiet this trip, maybe as folks anticipate the connections they'll make at Central Terminal.
The young man speaks up: "I love my kids, man. Broward County will f*** you up. Every time I get high...," apparently to another passenger, another young man. The worry and wondering is palpable. Whatever life issue he is going through has affected him deeply and he's reaching out for some direction.
"You need to stay focused on what you tryin' to do, and good things will grow," the other replied in a calm and measured way that bore the weight of hard-won wisdom. Direction discovered.

Incidents like this remind me of what's important in our interactions with each other, and I can't be reminded too often.

On my last trip to Central Terminal, where I'm due to be relieved by another driver, I'm extra attentive to the time points so I can make the relief on time while not missing any passengers. There's no leisurely driving on this trip, it's a full-focus effort to keep to the schedule. It's at those times the outside world intrudes into our little worlds. All of a sudden more people than usual need extra attention, or we hit every red light, or the train is crossing, or any number of things that conspire to throw us off schedule. If we're not careful, we may become resentful of these intrusions and behave less than our best. Or we can recognize the moment, not resist it, and see where it leads. Despite the possibility that I might be a couple minutes late to the relief after a long time at the wheel, I gave those who boarded the respect they deserved and attention they required.

As we approached Andrews, an older man I picked up at the west end of Sistrunk took a moment to speak to me as he exited.
"You're a good driver, man. Don't get jaded. Don't get jaundiced or jaded." Another moment of perfect timing and remindful encouragement. I thanked him.

On the 40 we learn we're all connected, and strength is shared for the hard road ahead.

World's Greatest

His hair was dirty and his teeth were broken. Dirt was embedded in the grooves of his fingers, the fingers that made music out of nature and trains. He spent his last days roughing it at Holiday Park. Yes, the world's greatest bass player was homeless. I try to keep this in mind with our homeless community; you never know who that person once was or what they've done. Any one of them could easily be him. He who was the strongest taught us even in his weakness.

To me, he is a hometown hero. By realizing his vision, virtue, and vice he forever changed the world of music. He traveled the globe and touched countless lives, but still he always came home. The man and the place had become inseparable. Its influences shaped his sensibilities, then his abilities painted pictures in people's hearts. He released himself into the world, and part of him will always be here, walking the streets we all use, climbing the trees that once lined Andrews Ave, learning lessons of great value in the hidden places. But he is not hidden, the beat goes on all around us if we have ears to listen.

Much has been written about him, he continues to be honored, and his legend continues to grow as the years pass since his demise at the hands of another. Today there is nothing to add, only for us to enjoy the music he left us, music that will never die.

Happy birthday, Jaco.