Reason #1 Why I Love/Hate the Metrobus – The 38B Ate My Driver’s License

You don't spend almost four years living in Rosslyn and not come to appreciate it for many things – but one of its best qualities (besides fried pickles at the Continental and relatively easy access to the Quarterdeck) is obviously its status as a transportation hub with many options. So more often than not, before descending down the escalator, doomed to wait on a platform during weekend track work without cell service, I stop to think: can I take the bus?

Now my disclaimer is I don't take Metrobus during weekday rush hour, when all bets are off. But if it's a weekend, and I have somewhere to go on the Orange Line, the 38B is my go-to – especially now that it runs every half-hour on Sundays. And lately, it's been eerily on time. Even early, in fact, so that I actually missed it by about one block the other Saturday morning. But while that’s not a deal-breaker, I was starting to think that maybe the 38B and I were settling into a nice, comfortable relationship. I could trust it to pick me up from Clarendon at 11:15 on a Thursday night or take me home from the library at 7:00 on a Sunday evening – we seemed to have passed the ever-awkward "what are we – do we need to define this?" conversation, and I could just assume that it would be there when I needed it.

My moment's doubt came the other weekend, pre-St. Patrick's Day 8K when I needed to arrive downtown by 7:30 a.m. Only problem was Metrorail wouldn't be in Rosslyn until at least 7:30. So who came through? The 38B, rolling into Rosslyn at 7:15. I hopped on, swiped the SmartTrip, found a seat with my running buddy, breezed through town to Farragut, and got ready to get off the bus at the end of the line. The only issue? My blue SmartTrip holder, containing my credit card, driver's license, and a couple of twenties, was no longer in my pocket. Or my bag. Or on the floor. Or by the driver. I don't remember dropping it, and I don't remembering noticing anyone else pick it up. A pretty thorough search turned up nothing. We’d been on the bus for barely 15 minutes, and it was just plain gone.

Luckily I was able to call and cancel my credit card on the walk over to the race, so I had that peace of mind, but I was also a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to order a mimosa at post-race brunch without ID (fortunately, I was persuasive). If I did drop it, I can safely assume it went home with someone else, but part of me wonders if it's still stuck between a seat and the wall on that 38B…

I've filled out my lost and found claim form and spoken with the bus lost and found folks, but I'm not optimistic. I don't think this is the end of me and the 38B by any means, but I admit it's put a little bit of a strain on our relationship.

More to come on my appreciation for the bus in general...but how about you? Anyone have a tale of love/hate with the bus to share?