Do you know a stranger?

Yesterday, I took a rare ride on the Rocket. Even though it was Sunday, the train was pretty busy, but I managed to find a seat. One stop later, a man and his two sons boarded the train. He was well dressed--leather jacket, nice shoes, label jeans--and his sons were equally well taken care of. To me, he looked like a Bay Street finance whiz out on the weekend. Probably a big house in town, a nice car and all the trimmings one would expect.



Across from where the boys found seats, a lady, mid-30s was sitting with her roller-tote. She was skinny, dressed in tights with running shoes under a denim skirt. Her hair was an unnatural shade of yellow and it was matted at the back. Her nails were coated in chipped black nailpolish. She was wearing heavy mascara and even heavier lipstick and a "sleeping bag" style jacket that just might have lived up to its nickname once or twice.



To my surprise, she stood up to say hello to the man in the leather jacket. I don't know what kind of reflection that has on me, but I'd like to think I wasn't the only one intrigued.



It was obvious this pair hadn't seen each other in a long time. She asked the man what he was doing now, did he marry so and so, are these your children and on and on. He said he hadn't married so and so, he has two sons and a daughter at home and that the three of them were headed to the ACC to watch the Leaf's practice.



He politely asked after her story from when they'd last spoke 15 years ago. She told him she'd rented some places but had to leave because of problems with drugs and roommates and a combination of the two. She said she doesn't have a job, but hopes to find work soon. She said that since the renting thing hadn't worked out, she was now relying on shelters and assured him that it was going well.



I was glad that I took the train that morning because I think there is an important reminder in this little glimpse. These two people were once friends. To speak metaphorically, they started in the same room and based on which doors opened for one, and closed for the other, ended up in completely different houses.


I think it is important to remember that the people we pass on our way to work, or school, aren't the strangers we make them.