(note: some names will be changed to respect privacy)
#1) Spiro, the rambunctious Greek man with a personality the size of the Aegean Sea
I met Spiro in New York City while visiting my cousin, Allan, and his wife Tina. I had not seen my dear cousin in over a year and had not met his 1 year old son, Marko. Well, on October 2nd that all changed. Allan and I were walking around Dumbo, Brooklyn where he lives (awesome area!!) and I was chomping at the bit to go back to his apartment and meet Marko. Just as we were approaching his street, he says, "Well, there he is!" I see this rather short, rather rounded man with white hair and a jolly demeanor approaching us with a stroller. And that moment my life changed forever- I simultaneously met Spiro, Allan's father-in-law, and Marko, Allan's son. I immediately felt a part of the crowd, and was welcomed repeatedly by Spiro, who I quickly discovered has a permanent smile on his face. After returning to Allan's to hang out for a bit (and watch Spiro feed Marko..... adorable) it was time for Allan, Tina, Spiro and I to hit the town. I thought Spiro was joking when he said he was coming. But OH MY LORD was he ever the LIFE of the party! I have never witnessed so much personality and pizzaz from someone his age. And knowledge! We would go by a building and he would like, recognize the type of wood it was made out of and tell a 10 minute story about it. Amazing. I felt like such a GRANDMA because it was 10:00 and I was getting tired- and here is Spiro, bobbing along the streets of Brooklyn, leading the pack to bar after bar until he finds the one he wants. During the midst of another crazy story about the history of everything, he orders some Patron, which he sips with class and ease. He proceeds to ask me questions about my life, harmlessly flirt with me in the sweetest non-creepy old man way, and as I get into my cab-ride home, say (in a semi-New York accent)
"KAITLIN. HONEY. I LOVE YOU. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF"
Ladies and gentlemen. I knew this person for 3 hours, and I felt like I've known him my whole life. I told this to Allan and he knowingly smiled as if to say, "Yeah, I felt that way too."#2) Danny, the driven Dominican cab-driver
Remember that cab-ride I just got into from the bar with Spiro? Well, little did I know that I was hopping from one incredible person to the next. Sweet cousin Allan paid for my cab ride back to Manhattan and told the driver, Danny, to take good care of me. Which he did. I thought it was going to be just a quiet, typical ride back to the city, but as soon as I got in Danny and I started talking. More like, he started telling me about his life. On some occasions this may have bothered me. But not tonight. Danny was one of the most open, friendly, and inspiring people I have randomly met. He moved from the Dominican to NYC when he was 18 years old and knew ZERO english. He said that within a year, he could speak it. "How did you DO that???" I asked? He replied:
"You know, when you really have to learn something, you just......... do it."
So simple, yet so powerful to me! He told me how he likes hip-hop but the lyrics are too fast, so to learn English he listened to LiteRock radio (like Celine Dion stuff) because they talked slower. He has 2 children, 1 year old boy and 4 year old girl I believe, and a wife who is also Hispanic that he met in NYC. Hearing him talk about his children was so magic- it was obvious just from his words how much he adores them. As we were approaching my destination, I asked Danny what his #1 dream was. He said to own a supermarket. He doesn't really want to return to the Dominican, he says, because he loves his life here, but also misses his family. He wants to own a supermarket with his brother someday, but for now he is a taxi-driver. He got me home quickly and safely, and gave me the most genuine grin when I stepped out of the cab. Being driven around by someone so driven themselves really made me think. There must be so many people with similar stories to him, I just usually don't take the time to ask. But I am so glad that I did this time.#3) Maria, the brilliantly bold Mexican housekeeper
So after a terrific weekend in NYC, I flew home on a Monday and had 2 hours before I started my new job (the one I just got "let go" from after I sprained my ankle). I hurried to make some breakfast, tried to look decent, and muster up some energy after 5 hours of sleep. I arrived at the house and was welcomed by the mom, kids, and Maria, the housekeeper. After an hour or so the boys took a nap, and it was just Maria and I in the living room. We asked the usual get-to-know-you questions, and things got interesting when I asked about her children. She said, "Well, I have a 22 year old, a 12 year old, a 4 year old, and a 1 year old." "Wow!" I said, because in my mind I was thinking 4 was a lot, and that was quite an age-range. No time for questions- Maria took it upon herself to explain everything. She told me all about her personal reproductive health history, including her husband's failed vasectomy, her ordeal with this form of birth control and how it made her sick, how her last 2 children were totally unexpected, what her older children think, etc. I was fascinated the whole time. As she mopped the floor she eloquently delivered this beautiful, expository monologue about her life! We talked about sex, we talked about birth, we talked about it all. I was so bummed when the boys woke up from their nap. I was really looking forward to seeing her again, but alas, I wont be going to that house anymore. But I'm sure if I see her around town, I'll have a whole other story waiting for me.
#4) Woodrow, the confident, flirtatious, mentally-handicapped boy down the street.
So, after the boys woke up from their nap and Maria and I said goodbye, it was time to take the boys to the park down the street in their neighborhood. We passed by a few lovely houses, I was getting used to my surroundings, when all of a sudden I hear, "Hey, girlfriend" from a porch. I look to see this 10 year old boy with mild Down's syndrome (I think??....) leaning against a column on his front porch, giving me the "what's up" nod. We went into his yard and the interview began as he asked me, "Who are you? Where are you from? Do you like this tree? Do you want to see this tree?" Then the best part of this whole exchange: while demonstrating to the three of us his extensive knowledge of foliage, he interrupts himself by linking arms with me and asking:
"Hey girlfriend, you got a boyfriend?"
"Yes, I do." I reply.
Then he drops his arm, looks at me with some SASS in his eyes, and with a cocked head says, "NAME??"
I tried not to crack up, but ultimately failed, as he was just too cute. I told him, "Andrew!" He seemed not-so-pleased, but continued to re-link our arms and when it was time to go said, "Bye, girlfriend!!!" What a confident young man.So there you have it- less than 76 hours and 4 unique and inspiring individuals. I felt compelled to share, as they brought so much random joy into my life. Hopefully their stories can do the same for you!
