stargo LOVE

The other night started off goofy and whimsical…met my friend Nicolette while she had a quick layover in Chicago for dinner at the airport hotel restaurant. We joked around with the waiter…laughed like little school girls and turned our dinner into a photo shoot. After having a glass of wine and a complimentary Cosmopolitan from the waiter (he thought it would look better in the pictures), we had to leave so Nicolette could catch her flight to LA. Our waiter even chivalrously carried Nicolette’s luggage all the way outside and randomly remarked, “I never do this for people” which kind of killed the moment but made us feel special he was doing an extra act of kindness. We said our goodbyes and I blissfully walked to the El…the only problem is I turned into the local village idiot when I met my new nemesis…Ventra.

Sarah 0. Ventra 1. I must have become the text book definition of a damsel in distress because an eager CTA employee swooped in like a trusty little superhero to help me…he may have even been wearing a cape. I laughed at myself because I couldn’t seem to figure the system out to purchase my ticket…but I think it made his day to be my hero. Then I tried to scan the card and couldn’t figure out where to go through the gate…yeah…it was definitely a blonde moment as I couldn’t get through…wah wah wah….but I laughed at myself. Boom…zoom…there was the speedy little CTA super hero again to my rescue. Realizing I had done an outstanding modern day version of Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire while he played an outstanding valiant super hero, I laughed at the thought of me accepting the Academy award for my groundbreaking performance. “Whoever you are, I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers.” Audience roars. End scene.

Awww the kindness of strangers…I found a seat, stretched out my legs and just reflected on what fun we had in such a short amount of time. I was kind of in a wine and Ventra daze…albeit a horrible combination…so I naturally started to daydream. Before I knew it, I noticed that a young man in his early twenties was talking to two guys around my age who were huddled around him…my intuition told me to start focusing on the conversation.

“We need to get you to a hospital,” one said with urgency. “We don’t want you to go into shock.”

Um did I have more wine than I realized and become a part of the Grey’s Anatomy cast? Was I still daydreaming? Shifting gears, my wine daze instantly faded…I adjusted my view and realized the young man was cradling his bleeding arm…it was pretty intense and appeared to be a very deep wound seeping through his winter jacket…leaving a trace of blood where he had been all over the floor of the train. It looked like he had been attacked…I immediately knew I had to help.

I went over to him and calmly said…”I am a healer…I know Reiki and it will help you if you are open to that.”

He looked up at me with the kindest eyes of desperation and said, “Yes, please.”

So I activated my hands…saying out loud ancient Japanese symbols as quickly as I could, drawing them on my palms. I kind of even got a little laugh from them as I sounded so funny doing it and we all uncomfortably giggled at my awkwardness. The two men helping him looked at me, happily surprised and wondering where I came from. They happened to be medics and one of them said, “Wow…at least you picked the right car.”

I naturally just put my hand on his back and started rubbing it and said, “Don’t worry…everything is going to be ok…just mind over matter. Just breathe deeply and all will be fine.”

I don’t think he even realized how hurt he actually was so I just focused on keeping him calm and giving him as much life force energy as possible. He listened intently and one of the medics looked at me and mouthed “thank you.” And I thanked him right back…it was a wonderful exchange of strangers helping this young man in need, working in perfect tandem. Everyone in the train car starred at us in amazement, almost frozen with shock but also touched and inspired. I think most people would have been scared of the blood, but I just automatically jumped in and helped. I felt an audience watching me…one that was touched by the kindness of strangers’ right before their very eyes.

Whether or not he believed in Reiki, I truly helped him relax and be grounded so he didn’t go into shock. The injured young man was concerned about going to a hospital because he said he didn’t have insurance. Luckily one of the guys knew where he could go and be helped. It seemed that he was going to go to the hospital and the two guys were going to help him get there. I knew he was in good hands and I did my part. I have a feeling this is a night we all will never forget. I stayed on an extra stop than I had intended but then I knew it was time to say good bye.

Looking him in the eyes I said, “You are going to be just fine. You are loved and protected.”

And I could tell he believed me. And I knew in my heart he would end up being just fine. Sometimes a little love makes the world of difference.

I said my goodbyes…was thanked with loving appreciation and almost had a rush from what happened…did that really just happen I thought at the train sped away? It went down so fast, but it was so rewarding to jump in and help someone without hesitation.

On the walk home, I started fumbling for my phone to text my friend Anthony. Well…let’s just say I got excited and almost tripped and had to fake jog it off. You know what I am talking about…no one ever buys the random jog off maneuver. The stranger walking by kindly pretended to not notice my sudden impromptu brisk jog spasm. Whew…what a relief.

“Whoever you are, I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers.”