An interesting thing happened on the subway this afternoon, as I made my way home from the office. I noticed that the older woman sitting in the seat adjacent to mine was alternately directing her gaze at me, then at the cover of the book I was reading. A friend recently lent me his copy of “Highest Duty,” the memoir written by now retired Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot who safely landed an incapacitated airliner on the Hudson River. I decided to crack it open during my afternoon commute.
This tiny old woman wore brightly decorated reading glasses tethered to her neck with a colorful strand of yarn, juxtaposed with the short, tousled haircut of a college student. In her arms she clutched a large purse and a yoga mat. She was on her way to practice, and was getting off at my stop, but was having difficulty hearing the station announcements and reading the signs on the platform. I asked her where she was going, and it turned out she and I were getting off at the same stop. She had this peaceful smile on her face, as if she was not really worried about getting lost, confident that somehow, she’d get where she needed to go.
The train stopped and she looked out the window into the dark tunnel. I smiled and told her our stop was next. She returned the smile, then, this gentle woman removed her glasses, looked me square in the eye and said, “Can I ask you something? Do you think it takes great concentration and focus to be a pilot like him?” She nodded toward the book. I replied that it does take tremendous concentration to be a pilot, but more than that, it requires good decision making and flexibility. That you always have to be prepared to deal with the unexpected. I told her I know this, because I too am a pilot.
“I knew it,” she said with obvious pleasure. “I have this intuition, this sense about people. I knew the moment I saw you reading that book. The way you were reading it. I just knew you were a pilot.”
Wow. A total stranger pegged me on a crowded subway car. Her name is Lillianna, and I plan to join her for yoga practice one day soon. I think I might learn a lot from her.