Visiting couple make lasting connection with Muni driver Tammy

Meet Letizia and Nathan, a couple traveling the world and Instagramming their adventures along the way. A recent leg of their trip brought them to SF, and it sounds like they experienced some of our most striking dualities. The Mission, they observed, was “where families fight to retain their homes, history, community, livelihoods threatened by increased property prices. Soon signs saying established in 1961 will be taken down and replaced by vegan burger bars frequented by lumberjacks who are yet to fell a tree.”

They wrote us on Facebook because they were lucky enough to meet Muni driver Tammy, hands-down one of the best people we’ve met through Muni Diaries. From their IG post:

On the way home, we connect with the bus driver
She had so many questions about why we would travel the world and what prompted us to do this trip.
Between stops she told us her story is one of loss, courage, and strength. Losing her son to a drunk driver, she set up a project to help family’s [sic] facing similar pain. 
Sharing tears and hugs at the end of our ride. What a beautiful, inspiring ‘random’ connection to make!

A beloved driver who threw a party for her passengers on the 33, Tammy took a leave of absence after losing her son, Deante, in a car accident. As she told us in 2011, she didn’t want to put her passengers in danger as she coped with Deante’s death. Quick with a smile, she always leaves an impression on her riders.

We get occasional dispatches about Tammy sightings—always positive—and we’re glad to see she’s still connecting with riders from all over the world.

Pic courtesy postcardsfromourtravels

World-weary, wag-worthy pups on Muni

We stop and drop everything when “distinguished” and “Muni” show up in the subject line. Per sender-inner D:
I was on the 33 on my way to Carnaval when I spotted this little guy. He was so relaxed and regal at the same time. I asked the owner if he was still a puppy and he said, “Oh no he’s a good 5 years old!” I wanted to snap a pic of his owner too since they actually looked alike with their gray (white?) hair but was too shy to ask.
If that doesn’t float your boat (??!) there is always a good old-fashioned dog in a bag, from our good friend Amy at Capp Street Crap.

Got other important news for your fellow riders? Tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Our email inbox muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com is always open!

Impromptu Tour on the 33-Stanyan

33 stanyan muni
Photo by Julian Walker

Showing out-of-town visitors around the city on Muni can be a mixed bag: Will this be the day when projectile vomit forces evacuation, or when a stranger brandishes the banana in his pocket? Fortunately, it was neither for rider Clay S.:

This weekend was the last weekend of my summer internship here in the city, and a few of my friends from college were in town. They were staying at my friend’s place a little north of the Haight, right on the Panhandle. I wanted to show them around town a little, and Dolores Park seemed like a good place for us to go, so I met up with them over there, and we walked over to the Haight to catch the 33.
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Update: Return of a Favorite Muni Driver

One of our favorite Muni drivers has returned to the wheel, rider Jonathan reports. We first met Tammy in 2010 when she threw an amazing surprise party on the 33-Stanyan.

Last year Tammy was suddenly absent from our commute, and she emailed to tell us about a tragedy that had happened to her family: the death of Tammy’s son in a car accident. The outpouring of your kind comments was amazing. (see Tammy’s story)

Jonathan wrote us with an update:

Tammy is driving again, though she has no set route as of yet. She was behind the wheel of the 24-Divisadero this morning, with a warm smile that Muni should bottle and give to all its employees. I vote for assigning Tammy to the 24 line. But I’m sure 33 riders would beg to differ. Her support group for families of drunk-driving victims, HeavenlyBoundAngels.org, carries a hopeful message — “From Pain to Purpose” — which is just what you’d expect from someone with such a big heart.

Thanks, Jonathan, for the update on Tammy, who brings a smile to so many of her passengers!

Trampoline on Muni? Of course.

Rider Rhonda snapped a photo of more curious cargo on the 33-Stanyan heading inbound yesterday afternoon near Castro and 18th St.

A trampoline… really? a trampoline? Just the sort of thing you need on a Sunday outing I guess.

Add this to the strangest cargo you’ve ever seen on Muni. The other day I saw a couple carrying two huge pillows on the bus, and just yesterday a guy carrying a small bronze statue of two cupids kissing. In his backpack!

Thanks for the photo, Rhonda!

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