One of the perks of living in San Diego is that I can use reliable public transportation for my work commute.

I don't know what it is, but sitting in crapy traffic on a somewhat comfortable bus is infinitely better than the same traffic in a car. I use the time in the morning to get ready for the day, and I use the time on the commute home to relax from the stress of the day so I am in a much healthier place when I see my wife and boys.

All in all, we save money and treat our environment more responsibly. Not a bad deal. Until, of course, other people get on the bus with me.

I know that probably doesn't make much sense, let me explain. Once a week on my way home we stop and pick up a man in his mid 40's. He is loud, doesn't understand personal space and stares. He is also a high functioning autistic. He works hard, loves people and loves, loves, loves to tell stories.

The problem of course is that the people on the bus with him don't want to be bothered. If he sits next to someone, they move. If he starts trying to tell one a story they politely, or sometimes not politely, put on their headphones and start listening to music.

If they see he is staring they look the other way, or in thankfully rarer circumstances react more rudely. It is painful and disheartening to watch. I have a nephew who is autistic, and my oldest has speech delay and behavioral issues so I realize that I am more sensitive than most but seriously.

This man's only crime is that his brain works differently than what we consider normal. And for this crime of birth, he is ostracized, treated with indifference or threatened.

So I am waiting patiently for him to sit next to me, or begin telling me a story, so that I can begin to build a relationship with him. In the meantime I am forced to watch as his fellow human beings treat him as an eye sore.