Yesterday morning when I boarded the Metro at the Franconia-Springfield station (originating station for the Blue Line), the train was completely packed - totally, sardinely, standing-room-only, gotta-synchronize-inhaling-and-exhaling jammed. This is the beauty of tourist season here in Disneyland-on-the-Potomac - there were several hundred junior high school students from Ohio occupying virtually every seat in every car. AARRGGHH!!
I squeezed into the last car and laboriously wormed my way to the very back, where I could at least lean against the emergency exit door against which one is not supposed to lean, whereupon I pulled out my book and started to read.
Within a few moments, one of the students - an attractive young lady - asked me if I would like to sit down. Being used to the ordinary level of chronic rudeness exhibited by usual Metro riders, I was a bit taken aback, but then declined while thanking her for her generous offer. By the time I left the train at the Pentagon station, three other young ladies sitting on either side of the aisle had also offered me their seats.
There are two ways to look at this:
1. Not all young people are loud, rude, and self-centered. Some are genuinely polite and generous and can renew your faith in the younger generation.
2. I look like an old goat who ought to sit down before he precipitates a medical emergency on the train.
I think I'll go with number 1, although being offered a seat by cute young ladies who are probably a third of my age represents a reminder that I'm now, by some definitions, a "senior citizen" with an AARP membership card, a full head of gray hair, five grandchildren, and more gold in his teeth than most prospectors ever found in the Yukon wilderness.
Aristotle once observed that good habits formed in youth make all the difference in life. I think these young ladies are off to a fine start.
Have a good day. I may not need your seat, but I'll always appreciate the offer.
More thoughts tomorrow.
Bilbo
8 comments:
I LOVE that someone offered you their seat! That gives me hope - obviously not by local young 'ens but none the less hope. :-)
3.) They thought you looked very important...and since you were heading into D.C....thought that you may be in politics...and that they should be extra nice to you. "You never know what politicians are up to these days...better watch out and be nice to them"...thought the nice young women
Hey whatever the reason that was really nice.
Somebody in Ohio is bringing kids up right!
You should have told them you were a professional dancer and standing was part of your training routine.
Maybe if you hadn't referred to them as "whippersnappers"...
I began teaching in a junior high/middle school and have ALWAYS loved that age group. I think, as you do look quite young, we can chalk this up to the altruism of these youngsters.
PS BTW -- The reason that the offer did not come from one of the boys is because at this age most of the blood vacates their brains and is rushing elsewhere. Actually, now that I've said this -- maybe it's NOT just this age group... :)
This is not news to you--Ohio breeds some pretty good kids, like some of your grandkids!
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