A little diddy about the bus ride from hell...

So, of course, I get sick. Just a cold, but annoying nonetheless. The thought of taking an overnight bus ride for 12 hours is less than appealing. But, I had no choice...we were headed to the state of Santa Catarina where the Island of Florianopolis was going to welcome us to its tropical paradise, making me feel 100% better. But first I had to get through this bus ride. 

Right off the bat, it was a battle as who was going to get to sit where, and with whom; it was 12 hours after all. The tickets get handed out randomly and I get sit with Vicky...good, someone I know. My friend Lauren sits next to me across the isle...but she's sitting next to this REALLY old Brazilian lady. I kinda feel bad, but thems are the breaks.  

About an hour into the trip I look over and see Lauren gagging, and then struggling to breath. She claims the lady smells bad and she thinks she might own cats, thus causing her breathing problems. Me, being the good person I am, offer up my seat to Lauren, since cats don't bother me and I'm so stuffed up I probably can't smell the lady. I was wrong. And, I made the mistake of speaking Portuguese to her opening the door for her to talk incessantly to me, at which point I figured out the smell was emanating from her breath.  Since the lady said she didn't own cats (I asked) I was starting to feel resentful toward Lauren, looking at her all cozy and relaxed in MY seat. When the lady wasn't talking she was snoring and constantly grabbing me in her sleep. At one point I dozed off only to wake up with her elbow in my face. I tried to keep my back to her and hold my amber resin-necklace up to nose as to drown out the smell. When we arrived at the bus station I'm helping the lady get her bags--when whatdoya know--she flings a huge red and white checkered bag over her shoulder with PURINA stamped on the side. Lauren was immediately forgiven.