5:40 am.
2nd morning train: Metro North to Grand Central.
Dark Sky reports: Clear, 45° F and Rising.
Wardrobe check:
Black Belt.
Black Suit.
Black Socks.
Black Tie.
Black Shoes.
Black TopCoat.
Black Underwear.
BLAAACCCCKKKKK.
Train rolls into Grand Central 2 minutes late, red ants swarm, clamoring and jostling to get to the exits.
The pace accelerates, foot traffic is flowing. I bear down on a doodler staring down at her smartphone, and need to slow, way down.
There’s heavy foot traffic on all sides, I veer right to pass, glare at her, but it misses wide as Ms. Oblivious’ is clueless as to the traffic backup.
As I straighten up, I ram into a Suit, who teeters, wobbles and regains his footing.
“Hey.”
“Sorry!” Not really. New York Pal. Call your Momma for help.
I accelerate, zigging and zagging out of the tunnels to the main terminal.
I approach the first set of exit doors and the traffic thins.
The Suit in front hears me approaching, waits a second, and holds the door open for me. Wow. What’s this all about? I pass him.
“Thanks.”
I approach the second set of doors. Suit in front, pauses, looks back, holds the door open. Wow. In NYC.
And then here it comes. The Release. The Big Softening, triggered by a simple act of kindness, and then another in case I didn’t get the message the first time.
Lightning Strikes. Twice.
Inspired by:
“What happens every day is what’s surprising. The treasure’s never where I look to find it but where I simply look – the sky, the wind, sunrise, a silver arc, the moment’s chance.”
~ Ursula K. Le Guin, from “The Everyday” in Finding My Elegy: New and Selected Poems, 1960-2010
Notes:
- Photo: Tanmay Vora (Train & Tracks Fading Away in Fog) via The Hammock Papers
- Related Posts: Commuting
Wow is right, but in my small town I experience this politeness and kindness a lot—and I extend the same….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Consider yourself blessed…
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is your mama calling, “play nice!”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh Boy.
LikeLike
Isn’t it amazing how such a simple gesture can make your day? I try to remember that and pay it forward when I see an opportunity. One of my favorites: pay for an extra coffee when I buy mine–then, whoever orders a large next, gets it free. 🙂 Or pay the toll of the car behind me. Investment: $.75 to $3. ROI: Priceless.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow. I must do that. I must.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You really should, pal. You’re gonna love the way it makes you feel. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
On it…on top of near term bucket list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice photography.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is!
LikeLike
Yes. I always would like to think things different. You have captured early morning shot in different way.I like it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Biijam. The photo was taken by another blogger. I’ve listed his flickr site at the bottom of the post.
LikeLike
I like small towns. But I’m glad there’s hope (faint) for yours. As you have guessed I’m not a fan of big cities.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smiling. I COULDN’T have guessed. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smarty pants!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, someone held a door open for you. What would happen if someone smiled and said “good morning”? Where’s the nearest defribulator?!
I guess everything is comparative. For me, lighting striking would be if someone in the pub told me where they find chanterelles.
Just saying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing. True!
What the hell is a chanterelle?
LikeLike
It is a prized, mushroom..locations are guarded secret…more so than a State Secret…
LikeLiked by 1 person
ha, the state secret thought not so good…regarding mushroom hunting limited supply in old growth forest and some mushroom hunters are a packing…locations are seriously not shared…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I know that. Mushroom locales are super top secret!
LikeLike
A fancy type of mushroom, much cherished by chefs. When you know where to look for them in the woods you have struck gold!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting. Thank you!
LikeLike
What color was your shirt?
No one ever holds the door open for me when I’m in New York city.
LikeLiked by 2 people
White. (Can’t be a complete ghoul, right. Some contrast good for the soul)
Smile more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll wear a white shirt next time to see if that works.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stubborn. Another feather for Sainthood cap for hubby.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I admit I’m Stubborn.
But hey, I smile and I’m always the door opener, for other women, men, younger, older…
I Thrive on being the Door Opener 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Minute please. Let me wipe off the water I spewed all over my terminal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I promise I won’t ever hold a door open for you.
There, I said it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deal!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Being a woman, doors are opened for me…I am glad that you also have such an experience. Dk must have had the look of strong presence, perhaps an angel in our midst…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smiling. (Laughing now!)
LikeLike
What would happen if you made a bold departure from the white dress shirt and black underwear? May I suggest, a nice gray. I know to not suggest a change of sock color! Shoes I love the luxe shoes from NYC Paul Evans, “The Cagney” in Marrone, available in Black & Oxblood as well…made in Italy… https://www.paulevansny.com/collections/bestsellers no more paying over $1000.00 for fine gentlemen’s Italian footwear http://www.businessinsider.com/best-mens-dress-shoes-startup-paul-evans-2016-4 I’ve thought of sending on the Paul Evans link ever since you mentioned your shoe damage on the train many months ago…for a casual out of the office event I love the stylish, Oliver in Oxblood https://www.paulevansny.com/collections/monk-straps/products/the-olivier-single-monk-strap-oxblood I probably like those because I had a pair of German leather shoes similar to those of course feminine, but they weren’t Oxblood color, from my working days at Nordstroms…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are a gift Christie. My own unpaid Dress For Consultant! Thanks.
LikeLike
Thank you for the kind, sweet compliment…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Surprises like this restore our faith in mankind and remind us to pay it forward. 😋
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes…so true Karen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So the shoes, damaged months ago on the train…were they able to be mended or a total loss?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not mended, toe cap irreparably damaged. Black shoe polish does a reasonable job in disguise.
LikeLike
That is too bad…
LikeLiked by 1 person
The black ensemble makes me think of a song lyrics, “long cool *man* in black dress” dress meaning clothes not the individual garment named a dress. Or how about, ZZ Top’s : “Sharp Dressed Man”? Clean shirt, new shoes And I don’t know where I am goin’ to.
Silk suit, black tie, I don’t need a reason why. They come runnin’ just as fast as they can
Cause every girl crazy ’bout a sharp dressed man. 🙂
LikeLike
Still smiling. Long Cool Man. Love that.
LikeLike
Really interesting photo…btw glad I make you smile, today…
LikeLiked by 1 person
boom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes.
LikeLike
There’s kindness all around you, pal…and as a born and bred New Yorker, I promise, even in NYC😉. Open those eyes, and when you extend that kindness, watch how it comes back – really..
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, and THAT, was the message, in addition to paying it forward. Yes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Sorry!” Not really. New York Pal. Call your Momma for help.” – What???!! lol All this door opening reminds me of a funny story about my two sons. There was a time quite a few years ago when my oldest moved back home for a while, so it was me and the two grown boys. We went out to dinner one time and they let me approach the door of the restaurant and open the door for THEM…but that was the last time. I scolded them so much about being gentlemen, that from that time on, whenever we went anywhere together, they would run to open the door and if it was a set of double doors, I had one son on each side opening the doors at the same time. I am the queen. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spewed water all over my monitor. YOU ARE THE QUEEN. YOU ARE! Comment of the day, right here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol
LikeLike
The black ant rules. Fastest among all of them. But reflective and softened by kindness. That’s a wow right there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smiling. Love this…
LikeLike
Reminds me of the three workers getting coffee I told you about last week.
My company is sending me to NYC for a few days. I’ll probably look like a rube. Us Texans have funny ideas about what NYC must be like.
Hope I don’t get mugged.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing! You won’t get mugged. Rube’s get special protection from the NYPD. Enjoy your time in NY.
LikeLike
It will be that obvious?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No! I’ll be shocked if you don’t find NYC the safest big city you’ve walked in day or night.
LikeLike
I’m sure its bound to be safer than say, Waco. lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure!
LikeLike
The real lightning strike is not that someone was polite, it was that your attention was drawn. We can see the forest of other people and simply pass through it thinking our own thoughts, lost in our reverie or absorbed by the small glowing rectangle that lets us be separated from them. Then suddenly something makes us aware of the tree, the single person or the singular event that reminds us we are not alone. It is that moment of connection that is the true lightning strike. Unexpected politeness snaps us back for just an instant to consider the person, the moment, as an individual rather than the mundane blur.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You always manage to stop me in your tracks with your comments (insights, deep reflections, really). Thank you. I say YES to all that you have shared. So on point.
LikeLike
Love Ursula. ❤ Great photo, David.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Had to think about your Ursula for a moment. 😇
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love everything about your post David ….sending gratefulness for your creative gift
LikeLiked by 1 person
smiling…such great words that capture the feeling of the holidays with family, so agree with you Meg.
LikeLike