metro teacher?

Usually I drive into work in the morning. I love this, because even when the traffic is bad we have a warm car, great music, and the sun chasing us along the river to our right for almost the whole drive. It's a very good way to start the day. But some mornings [like this morning, for example], I need to take the metro for some reason. It's funny, but taking the metro crams so much people-watching and random thoughts and speculations and musings into my commute that I'm actually exhausted once I pour out with everyone into Union Station. I know that if I took the metro more I'd be better at tuning out...I was a pro at it last summer when it was my only way to get around. But these vignettes from this morning convinced me that I don't want to be an expert at shutting out the world:

The Singer: Technically, he was on the platform before we got on the metro. A young, well-dressed man, kept from blending into the sea of Brooks Brothers by some fantastic shoes and a scarf that wasn't trying to be discreet. He was singing when I came near him, and after appraising me, he continued crooning Maroon 5 along his ipod. I was impressed...equally by his self-confidence and his undeniable vocal talent.

The Pigtails: This little girl was being held by her mother during a particularly crowded stretch of metroing. Everyone was pressed up against each other...something that's a heck of a lot less annoying when you have a 3-year-old near your elbow instead of a creepy middle-aged man. Her mom was talking to her, but Pigtails was slightly distracted, staring at everyone around her. My favorite snippet of the conversation:
Mom: "I met your teachers yesterday!"
Pigtails: "....'metro teachers'? What's 'metro teachers'?"
I had never thought about what it would be like growing up using metros every day...

The Soldier: I live right by the Pentagon, which means that my commute is filled with servicemen and women. I love this, as it constantly reminds me to thank those who I know, and pray for those who I don't. It also gives me the opportunity to see how others interact with members of the military. I've seen some ugly altercations, but this morning, I also saw an older gentleman give up his seat for a younger man in uniform. At first, I was a bit surprised that the soldier accepted the seat. But then I realized that this was the only way the old man could thank the soldier for what he was doing. The soldier didn't protest or refuse the favor, but graciously accepted what the man could offer. Social norms had been reversed by the soldier's daily sacrifice, and the quiet way in which he took the seat showed that he did not expect such gestures, but was grateful for them when they came his way.