Layover

Since it's completion in 1908, Union Station in Downtown DC has been a gateway to and from our Capital, a place where millions  of lives diverge and reunite.  I arrived there this afternoon, amidst the comings and goings of a thousand tourists( including a massive contingent of Boy scouts in town for the Jamboree). Impatiently, I scoured at them and pushed my way through the crowds with the other frazzled Friday-afternoon locals rushing home to the solace of family and a restful weekend.  I was rushing towards a long awaited reunion. As chance would have it my cousin Jef was stopping in DC on a brief Amtrak  layover between NYC and Cleveland after having recently returned from South Korea. And I, as chance would also have it, was able to get off of work early and scramble down to the station to meet his train. Fortuitous, no?

Suddenly, there he was, standing on the home shores of the Atlantic (at Gate B) with his backpack, laptop and guitar.

"Jef!"

"Hey cousin."

The Reunion had commenced. For my family this type of fortuitous, off the cuff fly-by meeting is not unusual. Special yes, but not unusual especially among cousins. We seem to have this you-are-always-welcome-here-and-I-will-give-you-every-spare-minute-I-have-because-I-love-you-not-because-I-have-to unwritten code among us. But in the midst of a bustling train station on a Friday afternoon it comes out as: "Hi. Welcome Home."  Followed in short by:

I graduated from College.

I met a wonderful girl.

Our cousin is getting married soon.

It's going to be the party of the Year.

Bring the Ponies.

Bring the zebra.

Bring your brother.

I hear he looks great.

Sure does.

Hooray.

I've got a job (almost).

I'm going to grad school (but where?)

I like Starbucks.

Me too.

Espresso's better.

Agreed.

I love you.

Me too.

Me more.

Like a thousand other busy people in the Station this afternoon, Jef picked up his things, waved goodbye and boarded a train towards home. I stood there for a second, in the midst of the crowd feeling lucky that our days overlapped and then departed on my own home-bound train. Union Station has seen a centuries worth of arrivals and departures, fortuitous overlaps of precious time. We were like two blips on the radar today, two ants in the crowd. And in the scheme of our busy lives this lucky day will mean nothing. Nothing except: Hi. I love you. Me too. That and the reaffirmed fact that my brother is awesome. and that this zebra that Jef bought for me should be my date to Brian's wedding. But that's another story and a lucky day yet to come.

Comments

[Sarah]

Rachael,

I miss you so much. I am so glad that I was able to talk to you the other day. Really spontaneous and unexpected, but totally worth it. I hope your job-hunting is going better. I promise that no matter where you are, we'll come and visit you as often as we can, and tell your class how cool you are and to listen to you (just like we promised). I love you so much. Can't wait to see you.