Will I ever get over the thrill of a plane taking off the ground? I hope I never do. I love sitting by the window and watching the ground get further and further away. I experienced this again just a few days ago when my husband and I flew to NYC to visit our oldest daughter. Once we arrived in the city, we spent a bunch of time on subways and buses.
It took a little bit to get oriented. We had to tap a card instead of use tokens. We had to use Google maps instead of paper maps. But other than that — the subway was the same as it was 33 years ago — the stairs, the smells, and the people entering and exiting. I’m not sure how it can be 33 years since my husband and I spent two months on a mission trip in New York City the summer immediately after we graduated from college.
I also find city transit fascinating — especially the subway. Tunnels and trains. People stepping on and stepping off. People going places — moving, flowing, waiting, riding.
I was struck by how the people were ordinary, every day people. During our four day visit, we saw parents with children, college students going out on the town, and construction workers. There were people with bags, people with canes, people with bikes, and people with packages. People willing to share info (“this should be the stop for bus 77”), people letting us know we’ll be able to have their seat, (a gentleman saying “I’ll be getting off at the next stop” which allowed Kip & I to sit next to each other with all of our luggage), and people saying hello. (One woman got on the bus and said “good morning” to the bus driver and then to of us seated there.)
People. Lots of people. Lots of ordinary people on their way to their ordinary lives. It wasn’t scary. They weren’t scary. Confusing, yes. Kip & I were often tuned around when our “guide” (our daughter) wasn’t with us. I was okay with that though because I wanted to figure out how to navigate. When I spent those two months in the city after college, someone else figured out where we were going. They walked faster. They figured it out sooner. I simply followed. It was hard to keep up. I think I was afraid all summer long of being left behind and not knowing how to find my way. Eventually there was a measure of comfort.
This time felt different. Perhaps it all seemed less scary because my daughter moved to NYC without having been there. She has figured it out; she’s a pro. If she can do it, I knew I could too!
