10 Minute Turbulance

Now that my two jobs are in full motion, I don't find myself with much time to contemplate life. Today though, something happened that got me thinking.

Airline training was done for the day, and I was waiting for the bus to take me to my next job. An older man comes up to me and says, "I saw you here waiting yesterday. I was just wondering how long the bus took to arrive? I left around 5:15."

I was a little surprised the man was talking to me, let alone that he remembered my face. But despite my slight shock, I responded appropriately. I told him when the bus arrived, and asked when it usually comes. He answered appropriately.

After that however, he then started to talk more about the bus system, how things used to be, how it affects his job, and how it's unreliable these days. He then talks about jobs. I find out that he used to work in the travel industry, so I start talking about jobs. Before I know it, I spent about 10 minutes talking to this complete stranger. So that's when it hit me...what is this guy's motive? He must have a motive. Why else would he talk to me for what seems like a random reason?

Is he going to try and shove traditional ideals upon me? Is he an old gay man that hopes he can woo a younger guy? Is he a serial killer who wants to lure me into his chamber of danger? These thoughts were flying around through my head, nonstop for the later half of our conversation.

Then the bus came.

He ended abruptly, with a, "well thanks, I was just curious about the bus time." He boarded the bus, sat down, and ignored me the entirety of the trip. When we arrived in Jackson Heights, he got off, and disappeared into the sea of winter jackets and fuzzy earmuffs.

I didn't know what just happened. A random stranger just invested an entire 10 minutes of his life into getting to know me, for what seemed to be no particular reason.

People do that?

This is a concept I'm not so familiar with. It may be my years in Japan that made me this way, but I've always respected strangers for what they are...strangers. I don't know them and don't want to risk inconveniencing their lives by getting to know them.

This man talked to me. He ignored my privacy, and struck up a friendly conversation. How...refreshing. As weird as this was to me, I started to feel more comfortable with it as the day went by.

On my way home from the restaurant, I was standing on the train in front of two girls. They were clearly friends, chatting and whatnot. Next to them was another girl, sitting silently. I had my earphones in, so I was taken off to a world of Ayumi. I couldn't hear anyone's conversation.

But although I was deafened by Ayu's howls, I could see something. The silent stranger next to the friends overheard the conversation, and turned to talk to the pair. It seemed like the first few sentences were a bit awkward, but before I knew it, all three girls started talking like old friends. Astonishing!

The girls talked for about ten minutes, then they split up at Woodhaven Blvd. I watched as the girls parted. Nobody exchanged phone information, or traded names. Those girls aren't going to find eachother on facebook. They aren't going to see each other again. They just invested 10 minutes getting to know each other with no goal in mind. They simply wanted to chat.

How refreshing, no? Life can be lighthearted. Life can be spontaneous. And although some things in life may seem pointless, I've come to think that's a misconception.