The Unexpected

Sometimes, out of the blue, you see someone completely unexpected and it catches you off guard. Maybe, as a result, you're on guard for the rest of the night. Nothing crazy, just looking around the corner 10 feet in advance.

Then, you might get in a cab on your way home. It's a pleasant evening and a pleasant ride. Your driver says something and you think he's talking to you. Excuse me?
 - Oh, I was on my phone.
Not to worry. A few minutes later, he starts to talk to you. How is your night going? It's good. What kind of things do you like to do? I like pretty much anything as long as I'm with friends. What about you, you ask thinking this scenario is suddenly familiar. I like to hang out with friends and to go out to eat and to grab a drink. And I like to play soccer and work out at the gym around the corner. That's cool. Will you take a left up here on 29th Street? About 1/2 way down. Sure. So, uh, if you're not to busy maybe you'd want to grab a drink sometime.

Ok, I fully admit I should just learn to say no. I also know I'm super judgmental, but I'm probably not going to marry a cab driver. Just not going to happen. Anyways.

Um, maybe. Why don't you give me your number. Do you want me to call you so you have it? (Hell to the no.) Can you write it down? Sure. What's your name by the way? Rashid.


Thanks, Rashid. I now have two cab drivers in my collection.

Thunderstorm

I've tried not to become a "jaded New Yorker" in the time since I've moved to the city. Still, fewer and fewer things really surprise me. There's still numerous things I haven't done or seen, but many of them I've at least heard of. Today, however, I was pleasantly surprised.

I was in Times Square on my way home from work. I've recently started walking to the subway station there instead of Herald Square because, strangely, I run into fewer tourists that way. This afternoon, the sky was black  and the clouds looked as though they would burst at any moment. Thunder began to clap and was immediately followed by lightning. (Did I mention that I love thunderstorms?) I headed down into the subway just as massive raindrops began to fall.

Usually it's ridiculously difficult to hear anything when you're underground. Subways are not the quietest of places by any means. Today, however, as I was waiting for the train I heard a loud clap of thunder. It was amazing to hear thunder while underground. Suddenly, I heard rain falling above my head. Then, mist started to fall through the grates above the tracks from the rain above. Finally, rain started to fall underground. It was one of the craziest, surprising, and most amazing things I've seen yet.

I realize that there's really something wrong when it's raining underground. And, as someone with a fear of dripping water, I really shouldn't be awed by this phenomenom. Still, there was something magical about hearing thunder and seeing rain underground.

Thanks, NYC, for surprising me again.