I enter the World Trade Center Mall and am confused with heavy security detail. One of them greets me and asks how my day is going. I smile. He smiles too. He makes my day.
I walk another 15 steps.
A tiny lady stops me and asks, “Donde esta el departomento de edificio”?
My mind tries to search for the meaning of edificio… City Hall? I am not sure. I am not from here. She looks confused. She is late to her appointment.
She has the address written down on top of an envelope with the direction, “última parada”
I speak a bit of Spanish. I have nowhere specific to go. I stop a man in reflective vest to ask for help. He tells me the directions in English. I translate into Spanish.
We talk. We walk. Her name is Julia. We eventually figure out how to get to 280 Broadway.
Random encounters are the best gifts of our present. I intend to talk to at least one stranger during my ten days in New York.