Is it too much to ask?

 Dear Coley,

  Recently, I have had the same question running through my mind- Is it too much to ask? The ending to that question changes depending on the situation, but the question keeps coming up over and over again. So, I wanted to share a few of the things, about this big ole city, that just make me wonder-

Is it too much to ask:

Is it too much to ask, for peace and quiet on the bus? Seriously, the last few times I have ridden on the bus, I have been accompanied by either a mentally ill person shouting obscenities at the air, or a very loud person yelling/talking to the driver. I mean, come on people, just sit and be quiet! By being loud and obnoxious, those lovely passengers really just make me regret spending the two dollars on a ticket and make me want to either break down the window and escape or box my ears into deafness. Oh and while I am asking…. Please take a bath before getting on the bus. The other day I actually gagged from the body odor coming from the man beside me, and I am a nurse (meaning that I deal with stank every day). Help me out here!

Is it too much to ask, to make it home safely without incident?  Let me paint the picture: I am walking home from the bus stop, in the dark and pouring rain, freezing and wet….. when all the sudden a guy walking his dog loses control of the leash and the dog darts out in front of me- this causes me to trip and land on all fours on the nasty streets of Philadelphia.  My keys when flying, my tights were ripped, my umbrella was thrown, my hands were raw from the impact of the cement….. all in the rain and darkness. It was bad, but when I realized that my bare hands were on the street where the day before a dog had peed and a homeless man had puked- it got worse. I scrubbed them sufficiently later.  Anyway, thank goodness I was one block from home, so I could hobble home with blood running down my knees (exaggerated by the rain) to have my doorman greet me with, "Looks like you've had a rough one". Why yes sir, I have! And then I call home (as I am soaking in the tub) to have my dad say, “You got mugged by a dog!”  Not funny Tommy.

Is it too much to ask, to get to celebrate the end of the semester, every weekend? I really don’t go out in the city much, let’s face it, I study a lot.  However, when we finished our first semester this Friday, it was the perfect excuse to get out and experience the best of the city.  So, 19 of us headed out to have the best night of our lives (well, the best night since we have all been imprisoned by graduate school). We went o Tequila’s (the name gives it away) and had some amazing Mexican food, accompanied by- well you know.  The food was great and we all laughed more in that one night than we had all semester. It definitely made me wish each weekend was a celebration. However, we managed to rack up a heck of a bill (see below)…. which answers the question- yes, it is too much to ask to celebrate every weekend (cause I definitely don't have that kind of money).

 Clarificaiton: that was the bill for the entire group (not just mine, haha).

So those are just a couple of things that I ask- often on a daily basis.  Sometimes, like when I am on my hands and knees on the side walk, it can be frustrating! I am just waiting for the day when I can wonder, "Is it too much to ask for the Morganton driver to drive the actual speed limit, and not 10 under?" 

- Can't wait!

See you in two days!

Court