Conversation with a Stranger

Life is pretty amazing. I always seem to find answers that I need in my life through people. Last night I got about 4 hours of sleep because I had to wake up super early this morning to go home to Connecticut. I decided to walk to the bus and take that to NY, even though it was a 2-hour ride. I walked so fast to get to the bus, thinking that I would be late. As the bus driver pulled in, he looked at me and let me pass in front of him and I kept on walking, not knowing that that was the bus I was about to get on. I hadn’t had any coffee yet and I definitely need my coffee in the morning, so I rushed into the store and my friend was working. I told her, “I need coffee fast, I have to catch the bus!” Then I noticed that the bus driver was actually behind me in line getting coffee too. I waited outside to get on and I asked him if I was getting on the right bus to go to New York. He had an accent and such a warm smile and said he was shocked that someone was actually getting on the bus to go to NY from this stop. When I got on the bus, he asked if I spoke French. I said that I knew a little actually because my ex boyfriend spoke it and was from Senegal, Africa. He was in shock and told me how he was from West Africa himself and French was his main language. He said I was so beautiful and he said to save my bus ticket and use it for another trip. It was just he and I on the bus for a while, so we kept talking about Africa and then more people came on. He told me that I had to sit in the front next to him because it would make him so happy and he would love to talk and the ride was going to be really long. We passed the time so fast-talking about Africa and life and people and God. It was an amazing conversation. He gave me a piece of gum and I asked him if he was going to have Turkey for Thanksgiving. He said maybe he would buy one tonight. I remembered that ShopRite gave me a free turkey and so I gave him the receipt for it. I told him that I was nervous about making the next train in time from Grand Central to New Haven. He told me to wait for everyone to get off the bus and then he walked me to a taxi and paid for a taxi to take me to grand central. In the car ride, he told me to remember that God only wants me to be happy in life and when things are stressful or hard, you cannot force them. That is God’s sign that it isn’t for you and if you push things that aren’t right, life will be very hard. He explained how he should be back in Africa, for everything that has happened in his life, but he is still here, so he knows that God wants him here. He gave me a hug goodbye and said God Bless and to say hi to my family from him. It was one of the most amazing conversations I’ve had in a while and it was so nice to just relax and look outside as the sun shined through my window. I think people come in and out of our lives for a reason though and I am thankful for today.