The bus this afternoon is full; standing room only. As I was settling into place in the aisle just now, some random guy tapped me on the shoulder and offered me his seat. "Oh, no, that's alright," I said, but he insisted. I actually don't mind standing on the bus -- it is an exercise in balance and will, and a chance to feel rebellious, standing in a moving vehicle -- but I took the seat because he was so nice and I did not want to wound his sense of chivalry. So here I sit, writing this on a scrap of paper, while he stands and tries to hold his bag between his knees, read a book, and keep his balance all at the same time.