While meandering down the aisle looking for seats, we all came to notice that everyone already seated was watching something. We could see them watching, looking around us as we walked by, and they were thoroughly enjoying whatever they were watching. Hmmm..
As we new additions to the car found our seats and turned to face the same direction as the previous occupiers of the car, we saw it too. In the end seat, facing everyone else, there was a man. His eyes were closed, his hair hanging long and loose, large, old-fashioned looking headphones in place.
And he was living!
He began with the air drums. In his mind he must have been on par with Neil Pert (Rush) or Keith Moon (The Who). His imaginary sticks were flying, he was groovin' right along, air-playing his heart out.
Fairly soon he seemed to switch to conducting, the sticks morphing into a baton, as he directed his virtual band, or orchestra, or symphony (from his performance I would glean that his imagination would create a fantastic symphony the likes of which can not exist outside his mind). The musicians in his head were obviously as enthusiastic as he, his facial expressions becoming more and more exaggerated as he directed the music and encouraged his vision to produce.
No one on our car was speaking, we were so enjoying the show, smiles on all of our faces. We weren't laughing at him, not at all! We were right there with him, our imaginations having been co-opted by his, trying to see as he saw.
Conducting naturally transformed into choreography, his entire body becoming a part of the dance. He grooved. He bopped. He got down.
It was mesmerizing.
He remained completely unaware of his audience, didn't feel our eyes on him at all. Or, maybe he did, and rather than be embarrassed he soaked us in, drew on our energy, to create his masterpiece.
I have no idea what he was listening to. No idea what his symphony consisted of, what his dancers were wearing, what the stage looked like... no idea of the depths of his imagination... but, man, would I have loved to have seen it.
He created with abandon, his joy and enthusiasm seeping into everyone around him. It was bliss. We were watching a passion piece, and we got to contribute a part of our own imagination as we tried to conjure his vision in our own minds.
As the train pulled into the station, and his mind was pulled into the now, he opened his eyes and, realizing that all of ours were upon him, offered a sheepish smile.
In response, we clapped. Many people thanked him. Most just smiled back.
Guy on the train, you changed a lot of people this morning, even if only for a little while.
So, to the guy on the train that was rockin' out to his tunes... I hope you get to realize your vision someday. I hope your imagination and passion can combine in reality, and I hope that they are with you, always. Keep dreaming, guy on the train, you put on a hellofa show!
