Dec. 8, 2007

On September 25, 2007, I had a whole day all to myself in Boston, and a little money in my pocket.

It was the day after I donated stem cell bone marrow which was later transfused into my sister's veins. The process might have taken two days, but it didn't, thus I had a whole day before my scheduled flight home.

So what I'm writing about today is a topic that has been on my mind since that day. Early on the morning of MY day, I checked out available tours of the city from the hotel lobby, but the one I wanted wasn't available until later in the afternoon. A nice woman about my age was standing beside me, (she was in town with her daughter) and asked me if I would like to pal around with her for awhile.

We walked a few blocks to one museum that sounded interesting to me, but it was closed. So we walked on a little while further, until we came to the entrance of Boston's art museum. I was standing in line with her, ready to pay a sum of money for an all-day adventure that I wasn't even interested in.

Why was I so willing to give up a whole day - MY day - in Boston to do something with somebody whose name now escapes me?

In fact, I didn't. The reality of what I was about to do flared up inside of me, and I spoke up: "I don't want to go to the art museum!"

So then she followed along with me, and we walked to the Prudential building instead. There, I spent three hours viewing the city and its historic sites from the high vantage point. My new-found friend and I parted ways when she got spooked by an alarm system that suggested we evacuate. I stuck it out and was glad I did. It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon, and I feel like I took a tour of the city, without leaving the building.

My curiosity about human behavior - following the leader - continued during my flight home. I kept seeing myself with money in my hand at that art museum ticket counter. I sat next to a man on the plane who seemed normal by all accounts, UNTIL it was time to get off the plane. I always pick a seat toward the front, for ease in getting off the plane. So there I was, in a window seat, trapped by a man who wouldn't get up when our row's turn! y heart started beating faster. My tension welled inside of me. I couldn't believe he just sat there! So I stood up, figuring he'd take the hint. But he didn't! So you know what I did? I stepped over him. One big leap over the legs of a still seated man who was blocking my exit!

Imagine what he said to his family later that night.

You know what I told mine? I didn't follow the leader. Instead, I forged my own path.