transportation – Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit

Riders on the Storm

The E Train

Many times as New Yorkers we have some unusual subway rides and strange fellow riders but today I was blessed to have two great conversations. I was on the E train and a beggar came thru the car asking for food. The woman next to me gave him a health bar. After the homeless man thanked her and went by another rider also told the lady what a wonderful thing she did. I also complimented her and she began to tell me that she got the candy bar from the Red Cross. Her elderly parents were just two of the people in Brooklyn affected by Hurricane Sandy. She began to pour out her heart to me and I listened and we talked until I got to my stop. I wished her and her parents well. Sometimes people just need another person to open up with. Someone who will listen and care. Today I was glad to be that person.

The C Train

Part Two: The C train. I met an older Latina sister and her rather exuberant grandson. My Spanish is not all that great but I caught bits and pieces of their conversation. Finally the elderly lady turns to me and asks me if I understand Spanish. I said a little. She then told me her grandson was loco! Now that I understood and we all had a good laugh. Apparently the young man is a Rasta. His grandmother is from Nicaragua. He looked like he was in his 20s. A Nicaraguan Rasta Farian! Now I won’t relate everything he said but we had all had a great conversation from 50th street until they got off at Jay Street Boro Hall in Brooklyn. I certainly got an education on Rasta Fari which I’m somewhat familiar with. Young people are very enthusiastic in their beliefs. The young fellow as very animated. I think his abuela admired my courage and patience in listening to her Loco grandson!

Best of all today I was not Black, white or Spanish. I was not male or female. I was not Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu. Today I was just a fellow rider on the subway who took the time to listen to two people who had something to say just needed a person who would listen. Thank you God that today I was that person.