Suffering

Convinced I would visit a career fair in Chantilly, VA. I reviewed maps and bus schedules the previous night, and took off in my suit at noon. An hour later I had reached Vienna, but there were no buses to get to Chantilly. I had noticed this in my research, but figured it would somehow "work out". I was forced to take a cab and paid $26, but figured it was a good investment if I landed a job. Plus, I'd be able to take the bus back because I knew it ran at rush hour. The cab took me to Sully Circle, but the convention center was a 3/4 mi. walk from there. It was frigid cold and snowing on occasion. Once I reached the fair I spent 10 minutes re-adapting to warmth and running my hands under hot water. An hour and a half later, satisfied with applying to a job and networking, I left the fair in order to catch the bus. It was 3:30. I walked the 3/4 mi. of Sully Circle happy to be eating an apple. I then walked another 1/4 mi. to visit an ATM and find a bus stop. Then I waited, freezing. I forgot the exact time the bus was due to arrive, but hoped it would near. That was at 4:00. I had no gloves, scarf or paper towel to wipe the glistening mucus off of my upper lip. The sun was setting and it started to snow. The wind was constantly blowing and there were no buses in either direction. I looked forlornly at the people in the cars and in turn they regarded me with one and a half seconds of pity before driving off. It was long enough, however, for me to convince them of how lucky they were. The sun went down and it got colder. What if I passed out? My cellphone read 4:30 then I put it away because it was too cold for my hand to retrieve it. I have a high tolerance for suffering. I thought in amusement, though I wasn't amused. The best place for my hands were in my pants pockets because they were pressed against my heat-generating legs, but that only warmed the palm sides. The other sides were numb and meagerly protected by a paper thin layer of polyester/cotton that were my suit pants. I began to move around: move my legs, pace back and forth, just to get some blood flowing. I tried lip exercises to keep my freshly shaved face alive. My eyes started to water. A bus! In the other direction though, but at least he'll have to come back. It was dark now and car lights were on. I started shivering. How much longer can I do this? An old man emerged and I asked him when the bus would arrive. "Close to 5:20 this bus comes. Sometimes 5:10, 5:15 depending on traffic." Oh, goodness. My cellphone read 5:05. It was uplifting to have an approximate time wherein my suffering would cease. The bus arrived and I defrosted in bliss. With slurred speech, I spoke to the old man for 20 minutes all the way to Vienna.