Chicken noodle soup

"Xcuse me, do you mind if I sit here? It's really busy today and the whole train is full..."

I mumble a "No problem!", flash a smile and move my purse off the seat next to me. Then I turn my attention back to my phone, emailing, texting, whatever it was that had me so engrossed. The plan was to listen to music and play games on my phone the whole hour and 40-something minute ride.

A few minutes later: "Does it smell like chicken noodle soup?"

I take a sniff. "Hmm you're right it does. Wow. I wonder why someone would bring soup on a train."

"Ya that is kind of weird." We laugh.

"At least it's not tuna," I add, hoping this conversation is winding down. I add something about looking for the person who has the soup, she says something about maybe they would have crackers to go with it.

I look back down at my phone. Then:

"This is a pretty good price for the train. Do you take it often?"

To which I explain that no, I'm just going in for the weekend. Then I politely ask her where she is going and if she lives there.

There went my quiet ride. I had a very pleasant conversation for an hour and a half with a random girl on a train. Which for me is interesting since I always envied those people who can strike up a conversation with their seatmate on a train or plane or wherever, while it never really happened to me.

I learned all about her boyfriend, the new dog they were getting together, how they were finally moving in together after being a couple for two years. I learned how they met, which was a really cute story. She told me where she had gone to college, where she is going for law school, why she is going to law school now as opposed to going to med school which she originally wanted to do.

She told me about her parents, her family, her childhood. Her roommates, her friends. I learned that she was German, I told her that I was Jewish. She said she has a lot of Jewish friends. We spoke about religion, about the danger of intermarriage. We spoke about marriage in general and shared our ideals.

She told me she sees herself marrying her boyfriend but wants to have her life and career set up first. He wants to marry her soon but she says if he's the one then they have their whole lives together so what's the rush.

I told her there are 8 kids in my family, to which she displayed shock. Too bad I didn't tell her I know of families who have 16 kids. I told her a little about my life, my family, where in life I am right now.

It was a very interesting ride, to say the least. I learned so much about a stranger in a short amount of time. She was a nice person, we crossed paths randomly, and I will most likely never see her again.

As the train pulled in and we both got off, ready to part ways I said, "By the way, I never asked you your name."

"My name is Laura."

I think Laura is a pretty name. And thank you for making my trip so interesting.

And to think it all started with a cup of chicken noodle soup...