99) The Unexpected

​At Vancouver International Airport, I stood in line to order a cup of Starbucks coffee.

It happened last Thursday at 11ish am. My flight departure was at 12:45pm but it was delayed at 3pm. (Then, delayed at 4:30. Lastly, delayed at 5:30pm.)

I was flying back home to San Francisco International Airport.

As I stood in Starbucks line, I saw an old lady slowly walking with her white cane. Everybody was looking at her. (Most people do not see and encounter a blind person every day.)

She walked by me and another person. (I was fine with it.) Everybody continued on staring at her.

She stayed at the Starbucks counter, until she received her cup of coffee.

When I received my coffee, I wanted to help her. (So I did.)

I approached her. Then, I asked her, "What time is your flight?"

​She answered, "1:45pm."

She wanted to sit down, and enjoy her coffee. So, I assisted her to an open table. From there. we began connecting with each other.

(My older self would only like to connect with girls. Now, I like connecting with anybody. Last November, I wrote a blog post, "Connect.")

​She was very grateful and thankful that I was willing to stay with her, until she flies. At 12:30pm, I walked with Mary Ellen to her gate. (Coincidentally, my gate was right next to hers, even though my flight was delayed many times.)

The most important questions I asked her: (I am paraphrasing her answers. Perhaps, I will record next time I meet someone. If only, they are okay with it.)

• ​"Are you born blind?"

​She answered something like, "I was born prematurely. I started seeing blurriness at 5 years old. I started suffering retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) to this day."  

• ​"Have you ever been mugged before?" 

​"Only once. When two people attempted to grab my purse, I loudly screamed. Everybody else heard me. So, they honked (in their cars). The muggers were scared, and they ran away."

• "How to cope being blind?"

​​​"I am use to it. It is a challenge. Ever year, I have improved my surroundings. I know we are walking through a hallway (to our gate). The white cane is very helpful."  

Before she boarded her plane, she offered me a mint candy. I told her, "I am sorry. This morning, I had no time to clean my teeth." She laughed. Then said, "I had no idea."

​Also, Mary Ellen told me, "You are the most interesting man I have met today."  ​