Seat Taken
A subway moment turns unexpectedly personal when a well-meaning gesture sparks a mini identity crisis, a dash of flirtation, and a whole lot of self-reflection—with laughter riding shotgun.
Thursday at about 8pm on November 21, 2019 will be a moment in time that I will never forget.
It’s a moment that embarrassed me yet filled my heart with the knowledge that there is much kindness in the world.
And because we’re all friends here:) I thought I’d share it with you, so here goes….
Last night in Toronto when I got on the subway I heard a man say to ME - here take my seat. Please—please—tell me you’re not talking to me. I do a quick scan of the incoming crowd and see that I am the only white haired woman. How can this be possible?
So I do the only thing any self-respecting woman who doesn’t want people to think she’s old would do - I ignore him. I pretend I didn’t even hear him. But he’s not to be deterred. Because when I can’t find a seat it’s his cue to make eye contact with me and ask me again. OMG he is talking to me! How can this be happening?? Can’t he see, now that I’m looking directly at him, that I’m not old?? LOL Can’t he see that?
I guess not - cause he really wanted ME (and no not in that wow you are some hot looking chick kinda way) but rather, you are old kinda way and I would love to give you my seat kinda way. How can one refuse such kindness, misguided, as it is. So I thanked him and took his seat.
But there’s a twist to this tale - there was a free seat right beside where he’d been sitting!!! What the heck. So I start to think that this was his ploy all along - this makes much more sense - he’s trying to hit on me! I’m 100% certain of this. He’s a nice looking 40 something guy. Hmmmm. He wants to sit beside me but didn’t know how to make that happen except to offer me his seat and in turn I would offer him to sit beside me. Doesn’t this make more sense???!!!
I am now flattered. And feeling pretty darn good about myself.
UNTIL….
I ask him to sit and he says NO he’s getting off at the next station.
THE END
Except to say that I wouldn’t want anything to change. I would want this guy to continue offering his seat to those he feels needs it more than he does. I just wished he hadn’t thought that about me.