We get caught up in our own little worlds and sometimes forget to check things before making assumptions. I learned this lesson the hard way recently. ( probably not for the first time )
As I was heading from Tempe to the Phoenix Public Market with friends the other day, the train stopped at the Priest and Washington station as normal. After about a minute or two of being stopped, I saw the driver of the car exit the cockpit and walk out of the train heading down the platform. At first, I didn’t think too much of it, but after a couple of minutes wondered why the doors were still open and why he was talking to people on the platform.
You see, my assumption was that he was “wasting time” or talking to people / socializing. As people around me began to ask what the heck was going on, I snapped this photo of the driver talking to people on the platform and wondered aloud, “Really?” This guy is making us wait while he yaks to people on the platform?
When a couple of people decided to walk down to see what was happening, I went along. As I got close to the driver, I could hear a little girl crying uncontrollably. This little girl, (maybe 10 or 12 years old?) had some how been separated from her family while boarding the train in Tempe. As she entered the Metro, the doors closed and she was alone with her parents still on the platform. As we stood there wondering what was happening, a METRO light rail service truck arrived within minutes carrying the little girl’s family to the station and we were all able to go about our day.
I was really impressed with the way the situation was handled and am really glad this little girl was safe and happy once again.
In my rush, I assumed someone was “wasting our time.” In reality, this man was doing all of us a favor. His kindness shined bright as the Arizona sun…
click on the photo to see a higher resolution
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