My Buddy and Me
Friday had come to Coquitlam, and this was to be a grand day! For you see, on this fine,
sunny Friday, it was only L who had to work, and so I was going to have Chuck all to myself.
Don't get me wrong, L is one of my dearest friends, but it had been a long time since I had seen
Chuck without her around. I was looking forward to some quality time with my best friend, no
girls allowed. With two young men about town, we had been planning on doing some truly
manly activities! There was nothing more manly than what we had planned! We were going to
do what every young man dreams of doing on a sunny Friday when there was nothing holding us
back! We were going to a science museum!
But first I had to wait for Chuck to wake up. True, L was up with the sun to head off to
work, but Chuck was taking advantage of his day off to sleep in a little. I didn't mind, as I had a
task to occupy me that morning. I had been spending most of my mornings enshrouded in my
shy nature. When I got up at 8 like I normally do, I would spend the morning writing in my
journal and reading the huge stack of Archie digests that L's family had stored in the guest room.
Then, when the house was sufficiently deserted around 10, I'd come out and have breakfast. Not
this morning, though. I had promised to send postcards to the family back home, and had picked
up some at the gift shops in Stanley Park. As I sat at the table in L's kitchen having breakfast, I
wrote variations on "Having a good time, wish you were here" on four separate postcards. There
was a panoramic postcard for the parents, one for my sister (she went backpacking across
Europe two years ago, so to her I said "Ha! Now I'M sending the postcard from the exotic
location!"), one for my brother and his family, and one for Streiff, because he asked for one.
When I was satisfied with my well-wishing, I went up to my backpack and got the special book
of stamps I had bought just for this occasion. With postage applied, I put the stamps away, and
began wondering how far a walk it was to the mailbox. I didn't have to wonder for long, as
Chuck soon woke up.
For our day together, Chuck and I were to be relying on public transportation. L used one
vehicle to get to work, and L's mother needed the other for her job. Our first destination, then,
was 7-11, to pick up a bus pass. L's mother hadn't left yet, so we were able to make our sev-run
in the car. I don't think I need to describe the 7-11, as they tend to be the same the world over. I
had brought the postcards with me, in the hopes of mailing them, and we were in luck! There
was a mailbox right outside of the 7-11! I kissed them for luck, and then dropped them into the
box. They were now in the hands of Canada Post. With bus passes in hand, Chuck and I
returned home, and from there, began the walk to the bus stop.
Having grown up in a small town, I had never really gotten the whole public
transportation experience. This may sound weird, but it holds a certain glamour for me. You
can just hop on the bus when it stops at the corner, and head to any point in the city. Yes, as
geeky as it sounds, I was excited about riding the bus. Chuck and I arrived at the bus stop, and
we waited. And waited. And waited some more. We made small talk like we always do, with
Chuck telling me about the latest developments in comic books, and I telling him about the
latest developments in movies. When we ran out of developments to share, we began discussing
the various projects we each had waiting in the wings. Then, like a silver bullet, the bus began
rolling up the hill. Like an ivory chariot, it glided to a stop by the simple concrete pad where we
stood. The doors opened, beckoning us inside. We stepped in, flashed our passes, and were
lucky enough to find seats. We were off to Science World!
The bus drove up and down the hilly streets of Coquitlam until we got to the transfer
station at Coquitlam Center. A transfer station is where lots of buses come, and from there, you
hook up with other buses that take you all over the city. We found the spot where our bus would
be stopping. We had about 15 minutes to kill. So, we waited. And waited. And waited some
more. As we continued waiting, I was soon hit with a brainstorm. This would make a great
play. Just two guys, standing around, waiting for the bus, talking. Of course, as they talked,
there would be all kinds of deep, dark revelations they make to each other. Chuck and I even
began planning the sequel, in which they missed the bus, and continue waiting. Fortunately, we
were a little more quick-witted than our counterparts in this play. When the bus arrived, we
were first in line. We were once again off to Science World!
We arrived at the next transfer station, and this is when my heart began to race. The final
leg of the journey would be made on Vancouver's Skytrain. This, of course, was the elevated
monorail built for the purposes of public transportation back in Expo 86. Chuck regaled me in
some of it's statistics. It is completely automated and, if they ever get the rest of their funding,
they're going to finish expanding it all the way to Coquitlam. As we were walking up the steps
of the elevated platform, I couldn't help but sing that monorail song from The Simpsons. Chuck
and I stepped onto the platform, and I was greeted with disappointment. I looked down at the
rail to see...two tracks! It wasn't a monorail at all! It was just another elevated train. But, I
reminded myself, I had never been on an elevated train! As Chuck and I waited, we started
planning the third play in our series: two guys, waiting for the Skytrain. We didn't have much
time to plan it though, as our train soon arrived. This was going to take us right to the front door
of Science World.
The Skytrain was a little more crowded than the bus, so Chuck and I couldn't sit
together. Hell, we couldn't even sit. But, I was lucky enough to get by a window. It was almost
like the elevated trains you see in the movies. As this electric rocket glided down the tracks, I
could see rooftops of gas stations and convenience stores. Occasionally, I would be greeted by
the giant glowing sign of some major retailer. We rattled by apartment windows. You could
almost see the people inside. We soared over an industrial site. Even it's stark concrete greys
and gritty blacks looked beautiful. Soon, the skyline of Vancouver's downtown core began to
appear on the horizon. The automated voice said "Science World," and I looked out the window
to see that giant geodesic dome.
Remember all the pictures of Expo 86? They all featured that giant geodesic dome that
lights up at night? Well, that is now Science World. When Expo 86 closed up shop, their
central pavilion was converted into a science museum and dubbed Science World. Chuck didn't
know how else to explain it than "Vancouver's Space Science Center." Of course, I had to
correct and him and tell him that the Space Science Center is now the Odyssium, to which he
replied, "That's stupid." I agree. And, I digress. We had arrived at Science World! We entered
the front doors, and paid our admission. Because Chuck still had his student ID card from his
year learning French on the east coast, he flashed it and got in at the student rate. I, secure in my
adulthood and finances, paid full price.
Sadly, it was one of the worst times to be at a museum. They were in between their
rotating displays, leaving only the static ones. But don't get me wrong, they were still cool.
Since I do have my physics degree, I found most of the descriptions of the displays to be
accurate, if somewhat simplistic. But still, it was like a physics lab all over again, as I played
with the mirrors and prisms, made the pipe organs squeal, and saw how air bubbles move more
slowly through liquids of different densities. Chuck had to show off his favorite, however. It
was these two giant parabolic reflectors, each with a small round ring at their focal points. They
were on opposite sides of the room; about 60 feet apart. Chuck went to one, and I went to the
other. When we both got our turns, Chuck gave the a visual cue, and I put my ear up to the ring.
I could here him! I could here him perfectly! I turned and spoke into the ring, and he heard me!
Of course, with my education in hand, I knew that this was all working because the parabolic
reflectors were serving to transmit and focus our sound waves across the room, but still, it was
cool! I glanced at my watch, and told Chuck that we'd better start heading up to the movie.
As with all science museums, this one was host to an IMAX theater. Correct that. An
Omnimax theater. Omnimax was developed by the IMAX people to be IMAX to the next level.
Essentially, take the mammoth screen of an IMAX theater, and replace it with a domed ceiling.
That, in a nutshell, is Omnimax. The Omnimax theater in Science World is housed inside that
geodesic dome you see in all the pictures, and to get to it, you have to climb this long, spiraling
ramp. It's a never ending ramp. Of course, along the way, there are all these cute signs telling
you how far you've come and how far you have to go. They get very annoying after a while. We
continued the climb. We climbed. We climbed. As it began getting more frustrating, I turned
to Chuck and said, "This had better be the best damned movie ever!" Eventually, the climb
ended, and we were greeted with...closed doors. I am never late for a movie. We had made the
climb with five minutes to spare.
We kept waiting, and soon the line began to form behind us. It wasn't long before the
doors opened, and we walked into the cathedral-like theater. Since Chuck had been here a few
times before, I let him guide us to good seats. He led me up the stairs to as close to the dead
center of the theater we could get. We settled in, and I prepared for the show! I forget the title
of the film, but it was something to do with hidden cities, and was narrated by Harrison Ford.
What can I say? It was your typical IMAX documentary, with sweeping vistas, occasionally
interrupted by giant talking heads. On my patented nib scale, I give it a 3. But still, Omnimax is
an amazing format. I'm surprised that no one has taken advantage of IMAX yet to make a really
kick-ass action film. As Chuck and I began the long climb down the exit ramp, we were treated
to what every IMAX theater has: a window into the projection room, showing the massive
projector. Ooo, ahh.
We glanced at my watch and saw that Science World would be closing in about half an
hour. We breezed through some of the displays we still wanted to see before sprinting for the
exit. Outside, the once sunny skies had clouded over, and we were being treated to a trademark
Vancouver rain. Chuck asked if there was anything more I wanted to do downtown, as this
would probably be my last chance to get there. I had to once again let my inner geek show. In
our travels through downtown Vancouver, I had glimpsed their funky, coliseum-like library
many times. I wanted to check out the library. Chuck saw no problem with this, so we hopped
back on the Skytrain and ventured further downtown.
We arrived in the same chunk of downtown that Chuck and L had been showing me for
the past few days. I was starting to feel like a local, and was even able to lead Chuck to the
library. We stepped through the main doors, and I was completely in awe. Rather than being
treated to rows and rows of books, we were in some sort of promenade. To our left was a row of
gift shops and coffee kiosks, and to our right was the library proper. As Chuck and I approached
the glass doors to the library, we were stunned. The library was closed! At 5 PM on Friday!
Where else was a swinging geek supposed to go on a Friday night? But, I shook it off. I had
now seen the library, and was properly awed. If only L could have been here to see it, too....
That's when I had a big fat idea! Today was the day I was sending out the postcards.
There were all these gift shops with postcards. L couldn't be here. Let's send L a postcard from
downtown! Chuck was receptive to the idea, so we headed over to the gift shops to pick one out.
I noticed some postcards that L had taken a liking to a few days earlier on Granville Island.
They were rather arty ones, with a tiny photograph in a huge white frame. Since I didn't know
much about L's tastes in photography, I let Chuck pick out the exact photo. With postcard in
hand, it was time to get a stamp. None of the gift shops in the library seemed to have them, but I
didn't panic. For, as we came into the library, I noticed that right across the street was the big,
official, Vancouver Post Office. Chuck and I sprinted across the street to the Post Office. The
hours said that they closed at 5:30 on Fridays. I looked at my watch. It was 5:40!! I screamed at
the heavens in anguish! Why didn't I slip my book of stamps in my coat pocket? WHY? Chuck
placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. The quest was on to find a stamp.
Something in the back of my mind told me drugstores sold stamps. You see a lot of them
with postal outlets in the back, these days. Chuck and I marched over to London Drugs. A quick
search through the upper level showed no signs of a postal outlet. We headed downstairs, and
did another quick search. Still, no postal outlet. I headed up to a clerk and asked if they sold
stamps. "Only in books of 20," she said. Damn it, I just needed one! The clerk advised us that
there was a postal outlet in the Bay, and that they might be able to help us. Chuck and I sprinted
out the underground entrance to London Drugs, and were thrust into a labyrinth of an
underground mall. It all seemed...familiar though. Of course! We walked through it when we
got off the Skytrain! (The Skytrain dips underground in the downtown area, you see.) My sense
of direction kicked in, and I soon led us through the maze of retail outlets to the Bay. A quick
look at the Bay's directory told us where the postal outlet was. We walked at a hurried pace to
the postal outlet and...NOOOOOOO!! THEY CLOSE AT 5:30, TOO!! DAMN!! We walked
out of the Bay, and we studied the mall directory for some place that looked like it sold stamps.
We saw a store called "Stamp World." That sounded too good to be true, and it was, as they
sold nothing but RUBBER stamps. We walked away from Stamp World exasperated. I was at
my wits end. Not far from where we were, I saw the Skytrain station, and was about to urge
Chuck that we should go, when something caught my eye.
Right next to the Skytrain station was a little mom-and-pop convenience store. There
was a simple sign in the window. "Stamps." I strolled up to the clerk and began my query.
"Do you sell stamps?" I asked him.
"Yes," he said.
"Do you sell individual stamps?" I clarified.
"Yes," he said.
I was elated! I slapped a loonie on the counter and triumphantly said, "I'll take one
stamp!"
Chuck and I returned to the surface world, our quest not quite complete. I still had to
write the postcard. We were also hungry, so it felt only natural that we should have a bite to eat
and I could write it over supper. Chuck wanted more 99 cent pizza, but I wasn't in the mood. I
pointed to the split-level Burger King that always caught my eye downtown, and asked Chuck it
would be OK if I bought him a burger. With Whoppers in hand, we settled down, and I began
writing my postcard to L. Again, it was some variation on "Having a good time, wish you were
here." I stuck the much-coveted stamp onto the postcard, and as Chuck and I walked back to the
Skytrain, I dropped it into one of the many corner mailboxes.
We boarded the Skytrain, and began our journey back to Coquitlam. I was starting to
feel like a pro at this public transportation thing. This time, I actually got a seat. The Skytrain
whisked us up from the depths of Vancouver's downtown, and we were once again flying over
the city streets. This time, though, darkness was upon the city, so as I looked out the window, I
was almost blinded by the myriad of street lights and store signs. As we flew, Chuck and I
reflected on our day. It wasn't long before we arrived at the transfer station, and we were in for
yet another wait for another bus. We had just missed the last direct bus to Coquitlam Center, so
we had to wait another half an hour for the indirect bus. When the bus finally arrived, I'm sure I
embarrassed Chuck slightly when I led us straight to the seats for the elderly and disabled. But,
since there were no elderly or disabled on the bus, and since Chuck and I are gentlemen and
would give them should one board, I saw no problem. The longer ride back to Coquitlam Center
went quickly, as Chuck and I continued our talks about the days past and our futures. We pulled
into Coquitlam Center, but had missed the last bus to L's neighborhood. We called L, and began
writing part 4 of my epic play: waiting for the girlfriend to pick us up at the bus station.
As Chuck and I waited in the cool night air, I studied him in the moonlight, doing my
best to make him laugh. Out of all the friends I've made in my life, I was instantly drawn to
him. He was the first soul I ever encountered that assured me I wasn't alone in this universe.
There are others like me in this world. Before I met him, it had been a long time since I had a
best friend, and so, in these confusing years as I decide what to do with my life, sometimes it's a
struggle to hold on to him. But so far, I have. And as long as L doesn't mind sharing him once
in a while, I think it will be the continuation of a beautiful friendship.
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