umbrella

thanks

I was sitting at the skytrain station waiting to meet some friends to go to school together. I forget if it had been raining already or if the sky was looking a bit sad, but the point is I brought my umbrella with me. Eventually we assembled our party and as the next train pulled into the station we headed towards it. What I didn't know was that I had left my umbrella hanging on the railing. As we made our way towards the open doors, one of the passengers who had just gotten off shouted at me, "Hey, your umbrella!"

I turned around and realized what had happened. I shot him an extremely thankful smile and ran back for my umbrella. He likely didn't know, but that umbrella happened to be my favourite. I haven't treated it extremely well - its colours have been long bleached from being left outside during the summer and the velcro fastener doesn't hold up like it used to - but it's still my favourite.

So thank you Mr. Stranger for that.

downpour

Two days after nearly forgetting my umbrella at the station I was standing at my bus stop in an absolute downpour of rain. As usual, I was headed to school, this time waiting for the bus that would take me to the skytrain station. I arrived at the stop and saw a man clad in rain gear, taking in the elements at full force.

I scooted over a bit and worked up the courage to say, "Hey, do you wanna, uh, get under here?" He smiled and said it was alright, but to my surprise he started up a conversation. We talked about where we were headed and then a little bit about our lives. I thought it was a really unique and interesting interaction and I am glad I was able to do what I did.

What made this encounter significant asides from the face value of having a nice conversation with a stranger is the fact that I have always struggled to ask others if they would like to share my umbrella. I remember many times in my first year where I would be waiting in a long line for the bus to UBC and I would see a stranger in front of me getting soaked. I never had enough confidence to approach them and I was fearful of a rebuttal.

So I'm elated that I asked this man. What makes it better is that the rainy season hasn't fully arrived yet, and now I am prepared for the next time I see somebody who might need a little shield.

lost

Funnily enough the day after the downpour there was some more rain. It wasn't as bad as the other day, but any rain warrants a classic, "Take your umbrella with you!" from mom. The school day went by normally, however I had a midterm at 7pm so I was staying put at school until that was done. I went in, didn't fail, and walked out.

Without my umbrella.

I spent the weekend worrying about it, worrying that somebody would steal it or that it would get thrown away.

But ya boy is back. I just found him in the lecture hall the midterm was in, lying at the front of the room with some other forgotten items. Thanks for staying put buddy.

end

Mr. Umbrella holds a lot of sentimental value to me. I can't tell you how many times I've left it in somebody's car, to be reunited after months, or good times spent under it with others. It's truly one of a kind, and I genuinely wish I had taken better care of it. But oh well, no use crying over bleached colours, we'll just see where the winds take us next.