The Sail Boston event had been on my calendar for quite some time. I knew it was going to be a busy day, but that didn’t bother me. I was going to see magnificent ships.
Unlike me, I did not plan anything days in advance. I thought I would figure out what to do the day before.
Showing the YouTube video put my willing husband off, and he decided it was not exciting enough to go into a busy city.
So, I ended up going on my own because I just wanted to go.
I took the train, and on the train I met someone. I helped her navigate to the location, and we walked together to the Seaport.
When we said goodbye, she was heading to the Mayor’s Pavilion, where she had a reserved seat, and I was heading toward the busy Seaport area.
Then she told me she had one extra pass. Her daughter, her plus one, couldn’t come, and she would be happy if I joined her.
I was not going to say no to an invitation to sit in a less crowded area in a reserved pavilion.
Grateful, I went with her.
She and her husband had worked with the UN and lived in several African countries for most of their lives before finally settling in Senegal, her husband's home. They had met here in the U.S. while in graduate school—a very white New York woman marrying an African man. They have two children.
Life has a beautiful way of bringing people together when we least expect it. Here I was, simply going on my way. Had I chosen to put my headphones on and not talk to someone, none of this would have happened.
A simple hello led me to learn so many things about the world—geography, history, politics, and struggle. Her husband practices a different religion. She grew up in one country, spent time in several others, and experienced political and religious diversity, different beliefs, and different faiths.
We sat on higher ground and watched the ships go by. Every now and then I would stop listening and simply admire the ships. Their size, the sails, the crews waving from the decks—it was breathtaking.
The temperature was perfect. It was a breezy morning, and we had a wonderful time talking while watching the ships.
She knew a lot more than I did about many countries and about the ships, so I learned a great deal from her. After three and a half hours, we both left halfway through the parade. She went home, and I walked around the Seaport, soaking in the completely different vibe, the energy, and the crowd.
Meeting Barbara was pure chance. I was grateful for that extra pass, but even more than that, I was grateful for her wisdom and her willingness to share her stories.
It was not the seat, but everything that came before and after it, that made the day special.
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