It must have been classy night on the southbound 18 tonight.  I think I missed the memo.  Good thing I was coming from work, or I would have felt underdressed!

It took me a few minutes of looking around to notice that this wasnt the regular crowd.  It was my bus.  Same time, same bus driver. . .   but not the type of people I am used to.  Nothing against folk that take the bus, but you know the people who are riding at 12:30 in the morning.  The angry old homeless man, the dirty old man, the middle aged dude that talks to himself, the young little skinny hoodlum way in the back, the black lady talking too loud on her cell phone (well, she’s always on the bus), the young artsy girl who says hello to everybody (and you wonder if she is old enough to be out that late), and the super quiet tiny latino man.  Always have one super quiet latino, especially on the 18 which travels down Nicollet stopping midway on its trek out of downtown on Lake Street.

These are my late night travelers stuffed into their faceless, nameless stereotype boxes.  And I like that crowd.  That time of night, everyone is generally really nice.  Well . . .  not the angry homeless guy . . .    And everyone is so quiet . . .  well not the loud lady on the phone . . . BUT sooooo much quieter than any other time of day.  Its almost peaceful. . .  relatively . . .

But tonight there was no one talking on their cell phone.  There was no hoodlum in the back.  No scary old man, no homeless, and no artsy chic.  There was a latino, but he was BIG, and wore really nice close, nice shoes. . .   evidently coming from work somewhere as I was.  There was a gorgeous black couple way up the front with their little, and I mean LITTLE, girl in a stroller completely passed out.  It must have been her birthday.  They had two mylar balloons attached to her stroller, a gift bag reading “Happy Birthday” with some sort of stuffed thing trying to fall out of it.  If it was her birthday she must have turned two.  But she was a little two.  And her winter coat with the fur lined hood was WAAAAYYY too big for her.  But she will probably grow into it  nicely as the winter comes and goes.

Mom was passed out too, leaning with her back to the window, head thrown back.  She was a beautiful woman.  And her little girl the cutest thing I have seen since Mariam went back to the big dessert land on the other side of the world.  Dad was also a good looking fellow.  Had the most lovely corn rows I have seen on a guy and a perfectly groomed mustache.  He was trying to stay awake, but kept nodding off, his head lolling forward every few minutes.  They must have had one fun night!

Woman across the way from me had magnificent hair!!!  Braided until the middle of her crown, then left natural and long!!  Except for the color.  A mahogany, or more of a black cherry really, but not all was colored, it was fused in with her black hair, but way more than highlights.  May have been a weave . . .   a really really nice one.   I want to use the word stippled, but I really have no idea how to describe it.  Such a great look.

A few minutes in to my ride another black woman gets on and she put everyone else on the bus to shame as far as class goes!  She was an older woman, heavier.  But lovely!  Probably in her 50’s, though so hard to tell because African Americans age so well! Her hair in a flawless french twist, large tasteful gold hoops and matching bangles on her wrist.  Brown boots I would kill to have in my closet and wrapped up in this shawl in the most gorgeous copper and gold tones.

There was a middle aged man who talked to himself, but even he was cute.  Not in the hot way, but in the arent you adorable I want to know you name and be your secret santa so I can get you something really fun, kind a way.  He was not annoying.  He was super respectful, and seemed to be on good terms with the driver.  Driver spoke to him all familiar as he left and the guy who had been rocking in his seat talking to himself wished the driver a good night as he left.  He was also very clean, clean cut.  Just wearing shorts when it was 50 degrees out, no coat, and had the general demeanor of a 12 year old kid.  A very well mannered 12 year old.

As I pulled the line to request my stop, the super classy lady also stood to get off.  I followed her, exiting the bus and actually called to her, “Ma’am,” I said, “I just want to say how classy you look . . .”  And she just walks off.  I notice she has ear buds in.  She can’t hear me.  I actually give an audible “oh” in disappointment.  When someone looks that good, they should be told.  As I crossed the street heading east, she crossed the street heading south and I thought: I hope someone told her that today.

Actually hope everyone on that bus knows how cool, or adorable, or classy they are.