A bridge over the Hudson, from the Albany train

We met Linda - probably not her real name - on the railroad up from New York to Albany on Sunday. She boarded the crowded train behind us, and, looking for a seat, sat opposite us in one of the four seat bays, with a polite "may I sit here?". A quiet soul at first, wary of her fellow travellers, she fell into a slumber as we headed up the Hudson river; she woke a little more talkative, eager to tell someone - anyone - of her monumental trip.

She was returning from Virginia Beach, where she had been to meet up with her father. For the first time in 18 years. Raised by her mother, who had split from her father (describing him as a "good for nothing" and worse), Linda had only recently got hold of contact details for her dad ... and had just visited without her Mum's knowledge. Mum thought she had headed South to New York for the week - correct, except that she had carried on beyond.

Dad, it seems, was newly retired from the Navy and is now married as settled in Virginia. Linda is his only offspring, and I can only imagine what he must have felt to meet her. And stepmum, too, was very welcoming. The three of them went out horseriding - Dad and stepmum own four horses - another new experience for Linda. Yet it was her stepmum who had a bit of an accident and came away with a big black eye where the horse tossed his head and caught her. "We had to re-assure all the friends we met after that - that it was an accident and not something Dad did" said Linda, and I do wonder - just a little - about her dad.

So what did Linda make of him? Well - she concluded that he wasn't quite the sh** that her mother had described him as. And she loved Virginia Beach - it seems the weather was fantastic there (so much so that she was hurting and peeling all over, she told us) and she was going to move down there in a couple of weeks. And then sign up for the Navy. She seemed very excited about her new life, though a little concerned as to what her Mom would make of it. "She won't be pleased" said Linda, but making it sound like no big deal.

I wonder too what Linda's boyfriend will have made of her decision ... there he was as we got off at Albany, eager to greet her and about to be hit by her bombshell.


(written 2007-08-14 22:40:48)

 Z100 - Daily life
Z501 - Public Transport - Rail
Z700 - People

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