i found a grandmother in the subway

this morning I realized the L train wasnt running so I stopped to read the sign indicating alternate routes I could take to get to work on time. As I stood there evidently confused, a little spanish woman approached asking where I was going. she said to follow her because she knew where to go, and I did. on the train I walked over to look at the map and she stopped me saying,

“don’t worry i’ll take care of you”.  

she took me onto the next train where we sat together and made small talk, first about how expensive brooklyn has gotten since she moved there in 1990, she then told me about her son and her daughter in law and how they got married after 15 years of dating, and how it took him 4 years for her parents to accept him because they were raised in different cultures but he persevered for love, she even showed me a picture of her grandson.  The pure love she exuded when telling me, a complete stranger, about her family, nearly brought me to tears  and i became overwhelmed with gratitude for her taking me under her wing.  We got off a few blocks from where i needed to go, and exchanged a hurried goodbye.  

I didn’t even know her name to thank her personally.

So thank you NYC for bringing together 2 strangers from 2 different worlds if only for a few stops on the j train. 

it means even more to me knowing today ten years ago this city was torn down. but we stuck together, and have continued to do so.

  • 09.11.11
  • 3
  1. monalyssasmiles posted this