Too funny. You sound like me last spring. I got a job near Crown Center, and started taking the bus. My first week it was freezing cold and I hated every minute of it.

I've been riding it most days for about the last six months. I love to watch new people get on to ride and see them glance around for the winos on the bus. (You're not the only one!) For the first time in years I have a beautiful warm coat, snow boots, gloves, and a duffle bag to hold all my stuff. It also takes me twice as long, but I save not only money in gas but wear and tear on my tires, and I don't have to get my car serviced as often. Once you settle in, it's a breeze.

Good for you; giving a Christmas gift with real meaning!

Me, I'm loving it. (Well, maybe I'm not loving spending two hours a day commuting instead of 45 minutes, but right now it's still novel and interesting.)

You should have said you needed some of those things. I'm always racking my brain for good gift ideas!

I have a bazillion different shapes and sizes of zipper bags. I just have to figure out which one is going to work best for me. And, of course, I own hats and scarves and good shoes and snow boots and those things because it's Colorado and I needed those things even before Mass Transit happened to me. So I'm set for that stuff.

Except maybe for hats.

I'm not a hat person. I don't really look good in hats. But I love hats. So maybe I'll find it necessary to buy a hat or two. :)

As far as coats go, I've worn the same one for the past ten (twelve?) years. My sisters sent me a gorgeous long, black, silky coat. I've worn it ever since. It just wasn't quite warm enough for public transportation.