“I am so disappointed and saddened that this happened,” a hospital executive wrote to his staff.
Metropolitan Diary: Well-earned seat |
I had taken the subway back to my neighborhood in Queens after completing the New York City Marathon. As I left the station, I saw the Q23 bus pull into its stop. |
I usually walk home from the subway, but I was achy and exhausted from the race. Opting not to add more distance to my day, I hobbled to the line for the bus and got on. |
I struggled slowly up the steps in my shiny Mylar blanket and finisher’s medal. The bus was already packed. The driver gave me a knowing nod as he picked up a microphone. |
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “this man beside me just completed a marathon. Is there a kind passenger who might offer him their seat?” |
Everybody broke into applause, and I traded fist-bumps with a bunch of high school kids. A man stood up, offered congratulations and motioned for me to sit. |
I plopped down and let out a happy sigh. Sitting next to me was an older woman. She reached into her shopping bag, smiled, pulled out a white bakery box and undid the string around it. |
“You look like you could use one of these,” she said, offering me a chocolate chip cookie. |
New York Today is published weekdays around 6 a.m. You can also find it at nytoday.com. |
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