Interactions with a stranger
I bumped into Brian again on the way home last night. Brian is visually impaired. He can differentiate between light and dark and can kind of see large objects but not in any detail. I first met him last week when he left the train at the same station as me. He was heading straight towards the glass wall of the platform waiting room and although his white cane would have alerted him to the fact I thought I would offer my assistance in navigating the platform chairs, bins and puddles and the 30 or so steps and left and right turns required to exit the station. He accepted my help and it turned out how was going the same way as me so we ambled along the uneven pavement with his arm on mine and navigated our way over the road-works-ridden major intersection. Once we got to his turning he assured me he was fine from there so I left him to tap and shuffle his way slowly along the road. I was in awe of his courage and ability to get out and about in the world.

When I saw Brian last night I again offered my assistance after all the other commuters had rushed past him in their hurry to get home to their more important lives. I hadn’t expected him to recognize me and was very surprised when he asked if I was the lady who helped him last week. As we ambled up the hill we chatted and I described the progress of the roadworks and discovered he was on his way to meet a ‘lady friend’. It felt good to connect with a stranger, even if only for a few minutes. Living in a big city you are surrounded by thousands of people who don’t care to know you. Reaching, even briefly, into the life of someone new, feels good. I wonder if I’ll see Brian next Thursday?