And Good Will Toward Men...

Who says New Yorkers aren’t friendly? I was in Manhattan this week and by chance I had a long subway ride from the financial district up to midtown. For anyone who is familiar with the New York subway it has come a long way in the last thirty years, but the protocol remains the same – keep to yourself, stare straight ahead, no facial expressions – you get the picture.
 
So anyway, I get on and wedge into a seat and glance over to see a man sketching rapidly on a pad in black ink. I think no more of it and look away – remember the protocol, keep eye contact to a minimum. Within a few minutes to my surprise someone sets a sketch gently on my lap. As I look down I see a profile sketch of ME, and it’s not some cheesy caricature but a nice sketch like you might pay a street vendor forty bucks for in Mallory Square. I look up and the sketch artist gives me a wry smile then he sets quickly to work on another piece. 

Within minutes had has penned a beautiful likeness of a girl sitting directly across from us and hands it over to her. She asks, “Do you want money for this?” and he replies, “If you wish, or just accept it as a gift to brighten your day.”

Now you might think this is a cheap con, but he says this gently with sincerity and the sketches are good, really good. Before she can reach in her purse, he is busy at work on another sketch of a large, scowling, linebacker looking fellow a few seats down.

The linebacker reluctantly accepts his sketch, and as he studies it a smile slowly grows across his face. He gently asks the artist, “What is your name?”

“Orin,” says the artist.

“You signed the picture Orin Ink” the Linebacker responds quizzically.

“Just a pen name” replies Orin, “It’s what I do, ink pictures.”

The linebacker hands Orin his business card and introduces himself as William. “If you are looking for work, Orin, please give me a call. My company is looking for copy artists all the time” says William.

Then the previously sketched girl chimes in, “I’m Traci. Do you do parties, Orin? You’d be great to do friends’ likenesses.”

“Sure,” Orin replies, “Where do you live, Traci?”

“Queens,” she says, and then Orin invites me into the conversation and soon everyone wants to know all about Baltimore. And a fifth person joins in, then a sixth.

So here we are – six people of different races, ages, and genders carrying on like old college friends. Twenty short minutes ago we were total strangers, I mean TOTAL strangers, and we were all determined to stay in our bubbles for the duration of our ride.

All too soon my stop comes, and I wish I could invite them all up for a beer. Alas, you just have to enjoy the moment and know there is still a lot of goodness in the world.