![\"Image](\"http:\/\/www.surfacefine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/9404952_448x252.jpg\")
<\/a>Image from ABC\u00a0News<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n My eyes immediately spotted something on her lap (you know, after I’d finished thinking myself quite the smartie recalling Tennile’s name and hair style). \u00a0The woman on the subway held onto a box with both hands. \u00a0 The box was bright yellow and I immediately recognized the device photographed on the front. \u00a0That mini Freestyle blood glucose meter. \u00a0The top of the box was ripped off and paperwork was sticking out. \u00a0My heart lept. \u00a0One of MY PEOPLE. \u00a0I kept staring in a you-are -half-staring-at-people-on-the-subway sort of way. \u00a0I wondered what her story was. \u00a0I thought I should tell her I’m diabetic too. \u00a0My internal dialog then laughed at me. \u00a0If I saw another woman on the subway would I say to her, “hey I’m a woman too” and high-five her? \u00a0If I saw someone with the same brand of sneakers on would I say, “Oh I love Brooks too.. we should be running friends”? \u00a0I kept my non-staring, staring. \u00a0At the next stop, the person next to Tennile With The Freestyle Meter, got off the train so I grabbed the seat. \u00a0I sat there thinking, “Should I say something? \u00a0Am I crazier than this lady since I’m having this whole conversation in my head? \u00a0Why is there so much stuff sticking out of that box?”<\/p>\n Freestyle image from Walgreens<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n I made a deal with myself. \u00a0If she didn’t get off at the next stop, I would say something. \u00a0We diabetics need to stick together right? \u00a0Being kind is a personal goal of mine and chatting is kindness right? \u00a0Sort of? \u00a0Or am I just a busy body who should be reading my book and minding my own business?<\/p>\n The next stop. \u00a0Tenille FreeStyle didn’t budge. \u00a0Neither did I.<\/p>\n Go time!<\/p>\n “Hi. \u00a0I noticed your glucose meter box (me, pointing at box). \u00a0Do you have diabetes?”<\/p>\n She barely turned her head (another sign of crazy maybe) and answered, “Yes”.<\/p>\n “Me too!” (I tried to sound like “yeah, whatever, cool” but am pretty sure I probably sounded way too excited, like a cartoon character).<\/p>\n She turned slightly but was still looking at me out of the corner of her eyes. \u00a0I also now had the attention of some fellow commuters who were practicing their non-staring-totally-staring look. \u00a0She said, “Doctor says I got it again real bad. \u00a0Blood over 300. \u00a0They gave me this” (I’m going to assume this was the box with the BG meter).<\/p>\n Hmmmm. \u00a0“Again” \u00a0threw me a bit. \u00a0“Got it real bad” made me wince slightly in that my-pancreas-quit-when-I-was-6-years-old-and-I’m-pretty-sure-I-don’t-have-it-“real good” kind of way. \u00a0Oh and did your doctor actually say that, because if so I’d like to rattle them.<\/p>\n My turn.<\/p>\n “Well I’ve been diabetic for almost 35 years. \u00a0It isn’t easy, but if I can do it, you can do it too.”<\/p>\n Tenille FreeStyle turned to look at me. She quickly looked me up and down and turned back to facing forward.<\/p>\n Nothing. \u00a0Awkward silence. \u00a0Ummmmm.<\/p>\n Next stop a woman got onto the subway with a very small child. \u00a0There were many more people now. \u00a0Unlike my fellow seated commuters who apparently were raised by wolves, I offered my seat to the woman with a kid who looked exactly like Dora The Explorer. \u00a0She nodded, took my seat, and pulled Dora onto her lap.<\/p>\n I stood to an angle overlooking Tenille FreeStyle. \u00a0Her eyes darted around but she definitely was NOT making eye contact with me. \u00a0Next stop, more people. \u00a0Now I had to move further from Tenille FreeStyle. \u00a0Well that was a bust. \u00a0At least Dora the Explorer was smiling at me.<\/p>\n My stop. \u00a0Dora and her Mom were getting off ahead of me. \u00a0I saw Tenille Freestyle give me a darting look as she slid into the corner spot where Dora and her Mom were sitting. \u00a0I thought I should say something. \u00a0What? \u00a0“Good luck”? \u00a0That sounded so lame but I needed to get off the train and way too many people were exiting all at once. \u00a0I looked down. \u00a0Tenille FreeStyle beat me too it.<\/p>\n “Thanks for talking.”<\/p>\n I’m not sure if she meant diabetes stuff or just that I spoke to her.<\/p>\n “I meant what I said, even when it doesn’t feel like it, you REALLY can do this.”<\/p>\n She thanked me again and said OK and I gave her a big smile.<\/p>\n I got off the train. \u00a0The whole thing was odd. \u00a0I blocked people getting on the train and they were clearly angry pushing into me as they tried getting where they were going. \u00a0I was the lone salmon swimming against the 6 train.<\/p>\n I walked down the platform thinking about Tenille Freestyle. \u00a0 She’d smiled back at me as I left the train. \u00a0Her teeth were very mangled. \u00a0I thought how I really need to make a dentist appointment. \u00a0I thought how this little experience wasn’t a diabetes thing at all (I mean it is but it’s more than that). \u00a0It’s about being compassionate. \u00a0It’s about being kind. \u00a0But was I just kind because of diabetes? \u00a0I never would have spoken to her otherwise. \u00a0My immediate reaction was something was off with her. \u00a0I spoke to her because I thought she probably has diabetes and therefore I felt compelled to say something. \u00a0Hmmm.<\/p>\n I thought about how there are plenty of times that I feel burdened by diabetes. \u00a0That I am scared, sometimes really scared and that there are times I don’t feel I can necessarily just do it. \u00a0I usually keep these thoughts to myself. \u00a0Saying it out loud could make it true (and send up a major red flag to people who know me and give me a few more points in the crazy column).<\/p>\n Did I just lie to Tenille FreeStyle? \u00a0No. \u00a0I told her the truth. \u00a0I do think she can do it, and it is not easy. \u00a0If I’m willing to believe in a stranger, I need to believe a bit more in myself too.<\/p>\n Thanks Tenille FreeStyle.<\/p>\n *Please note: in an earlier paragraph I referenced people raised by wolves perhaps lacking the manners to give up their seat on the subway to someone in need. \u00a0I do not personally know any wolves. \u00a0I’m sorry if any wolves were offended by my comment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I hopped the subway last week, late in the afternoon. \u00a0It wasn’t rush hour, but was just crowded enough that I didn’t get a seat. \u00a0I stood against the door and within a second I noticed the woman sitting across … Continue reading <\/a>