Lyft and Lift

“Have faith.  Everything will turn out alright!” – Scott

Lyft and Lift

It was the weekend train schedule.  That meant we were standing on the platform waiting for a train to take us from Brooklyn back to Manhattan longer than usual. And, on this Saturday night it felt different, more frantic than usual.  The platform was pressed to near capacity and people were on edge as the information sign flashed additional train cancellations.

When the train arrived we moved forward to the open doors as one with crushing humanity and oppressive heat.  There were people sitting and standing, most tightly clustered in groups of family and friends until we arrived at our stop near Second Avenue & 42^nd Street.  As we emerged from the underground, we were greeted by the screaming of sirens accompanied by first responder vehicles in response mode.  This is often the case in Midtown so we didn’t give it much thought until we arrived at our selected restaurant to celebrate my son-in-law’s birthday.

Just after we were seated, Jean, my daughter Annie’s roommate, looked up at us with startled eyes and said, “A bomb just went off in Chelsea!”

Police continued to visibly increase through the night and by Sunday morning there were officers in body armor, carrying automatic weapons positioned on the streets.  Many routes were closed to traffic, so we used our feet as a vehicle to retrieve breakfast from Junior’s on Broadway where our stomachs were soon full, comfortable, and unsettled all at the same time.

Our time was full as well, so I ordered a ride to the airport using Lyft and the car arrived within three minutes.  Scott, our driver, helped load our luggage and we slid into the cocoon of his car and began pleasant conversation.

“You’re on your way back to Utah?”  Scott said to us we drove toward the Midtown Tunnel.

“Yes.”  I replied as we passed more emergency vehicles and police offering protection near and around the UN.  “With everything so unsettled we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time to navigate to the airport.”

“Things are a little bit more peaceful where you live aren’t they?”  Scott continued.

“Sometimes I think we live in the last peaceful place in America!”  I agreed.

“Have faith!” Scott counseled.  “Everything will turn out alright!!”

I looked at his eyes as they reflected at me from his rear view mirror.  They struck me as a reflection of his words.  They were still, sincere, resolute, and belonging to a man who conveyed the deeply rooted spirit of New York.  They reminded me of the eyes of one of our greatest leaders, George Washington.

Scott’s words and eyes showed me that Mr. Washington is remembered more deeply in the City than in just stone and museums.  His spirit lives on!

My spirit was lifted through Scott’s Lyft, a driver who holds his conviction close and delivers more than a simple ride.  He delivered faith in our future directly from his heart to mine.