WMATAing

This is a story about a little boy who loves METRO TRANSIT.

A creative mom.

An observant neighbor.

And a very, very kind man.

It starts with a creative mom named Becki who posted this in a local Facebook group: “In search of tall square skinny boxes.  My son is obsessed with Metro, so I had the genius idea to spray paint a box to look like the metro pillars (signs).  He wants to make more than one station, so if anyone has a box laying around, I’d love to have it!  Also, if you happen to have any other Metro swat laying around we’d take it.  All he talks about are trains and buses 😊.”  She also shared a photo of an iconic Washington DC metro sign she had made (which is brilliant if you ask me).

Brilliant replica of a Washington DC Metro Stop sign made out of a cardboard box

What followed were LOTS of comments on the post.  People who said they would look for boxes.  People who shared photos of boxes they were excited to donate.  People whose kids had old Metro things they would pass along.  A person in an amazing Metro themed costume.  And people who understood exactly where this mamma was coming from because their kids were metro obsessed, too.  Becki replied to one comment by sharing this about her son, “He pretends he’s driving a bus or train all day long.  He goes outside on his scooter to go “WMATAing,” (WMATA is the name of the Washington DC transit system – he has turned it into a verb!).

A neighbor shared this photo of her child (now a teen) when he was in
his "Metro" stage (photo shared with teen's permission)

A neighbor shared this hilarious costume of her dressed
as the Dupont Circle Metro sign!  The M even LIT UP!

What also followed was one neighbor, Heidi, seeing a WMATA employee “in the wild” standing outside our local post office, remembering the request for the kid who loves metro, and her being brave enough to reach out.

You see, acts of kindness sometimes require you to step outside your comfort zone.  Actually – they often do!  Walking up to a stranger and asking them for something (or even offering them something for that matter) takes GUTS.  And Heidi has guts.

She approached the Metro employee whose name turned out to be Rick.  She told Rick about the little boy in the neighborhood who loves Metro, and Rick said he would be happy to help by seeing what swag he could put together for the child.

What a kind man!! 

So today, only 6 days after Becki’s ask for boxes, Rick and Oliver met up in the Post Office parking lot.  Rick gave Oliver (who came dressed for the occasion in a WMATA safety vest) a bag of Metro gear.  He had also put together a second bag of goodies for another sweet kid in the community obsessed with Metro.

An imaginary Metro employee got to chat with a real Metro employee

I got to stop by and meet Rick and Oliver, too.  I talked with Oliver about all things Metro – his favorite stop, which bus he rides (the ART bus – to go the library!), which metro stop has the longest elevator, why the bus is so fun (you get to push the button to ask for your stop!, how to get to his grandma’s house on the silver line…  You know, the kind of stuff Metro lovers chat about.

And we got to thank Rick for his kindness.  He didn’t have to go out of his way and collect things to give to these kids.  He didn’t have to take time on a Sunday to meet with the little admirer.  But he did.  And his kindness speaks volumes about what a great human he is.

Heidi, who was brave enough to approach Rick
and ask a big favor

Kindness Activist gifted Rick a Kind is Cool t-shirt and a Target gift card to thank him.  He didn’t do what he did for the thanks, but we wanted him to know that his generosity and kindness was noted and respected.

WMATA on, Oliver.  I hope to see you on a train one day.

Kindness Activist funds spent: $50

Delight in hearing a child talk about Metro: immeasurable