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This is a longish story, just a heads up;)
Ok. So. I move to Long Island 3 weeks after graduating high school. I am a live-in au-pair for a (wonderful) family. At age 18, this was too-big-of-a-job for me, but I did the entire year and all was well. Looking back though, I don't feel that I was mature enough to take on nannying 6 year old triplets. I really hope I didn't screw them up too, too much! I have a good relationship with the family and now count them as one of my second families. I am very lucky to have been placed with them!
On my first weekend there, I had gone over to New Jersey to visit some family friends and went to Church there. Connections are amazing, I spent so many weekends over in Jersey with a fun family.
On the train back to LI:
On the LIRR back to Long Island I zoned out in my chair and thought about my year ahead, and couldn't quite wrap my head around the fact that my dream of living (close to) in NYC was actually happening. The train was quite empty and quiet on that evening.
In the cluster of seats ahead of me (a set of 4 seats facing each other) sat 4 (rather cute) guys my age. They had been discussing their Pastors message at Church that night and this caught my attention. Christian people my age, heading out towards my new town?! That's cool, but should I talk to them? (Rewind. 8 years ago, I was very shy. Especially around cute boys. I guess awkward is a better word)
I decided to talk to them. After all, this was a chance to make new friends! I admitted to eavesdropping to their conversation and told them I was also a Christian and told them my story; just graduated, from Canada (no, NS is not in the Midwest!), etc. They were so friendly and invited me to their base for Monday nights Christian Fellowship Club, which was a fun time to listen to music, a sermon, eat, socialize, etc.
There was Glenn, Corey Brendan and Justin. They were all in their last year at the Base. We chatted for the remainder of the train ride. Glenn left me his number and I tucked it away, not really planning on using it. It was cool to meet them, but I really didn't know them at all.
They got off one stop before mine and we said our goodbyes, nice-to-meet-you's and they were gone.
I went back to zoning out in my chair and a lady that I hadn't noticed told me that my friends had left a bag. My friends? I was in NY and I just met some cute guys, so they weren't really "friends", right? I told her I didn't have a phone to call them and she offered me her phone. I couldn't really decline this offer so I dialed their number from the torn off piece of paper Glenn has written his number on. Glenn answered the phone and I told him one of them left their bag. We decided to contact each other the next day to arrange a time to meet up and give the bag back.
At some point during the next day, Monday, I called them from the house phone (no cell phone at this point) and arranged to meet that evening at the IHOP right up the street from me. I had imagined a quick meeting, but it was about an hour of chatting. Corey and Glenn were there and that was the beginning of so many relationships during that year. Corey reminded me so much of my cousin Steve and it was so comforting to have an instant friend.
A few weeks later we went to a game at the base and Glenn made sure I was going because a few girls from the city were coming in for the game and to go out to eat. They went to a Christian College that's in the basement of the Empire State Building (seriously! How cool is that?!) Brittany and Erin were the girls that were at the game. By meeting them, I met a handful of other girls my age and spent some weekends in the city at their place.
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| the first night meeting the girls. Corey and Glenn are here also! |
I just can't wrap my head around it sometimes how blessed (and I don't use this word lightly) I was to meet those 4 guys on the train that night. What if I hadn't spoken to them? More importantly, what if the random lady on the train didn't approach me and tell me that my "friends" had left their bag? God was most definitely looking out for me that night and I am so thankful for that.
I've lost contact with some of my NY friends anymore because everyone has gone their own ways and that is just what happens, but memories are awesome to have!
I say angel on the LIRR because I didn't see her there prior to her talking to me and I just really feel like she was strategically placed there for me! :)
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Thanks for reading!
