The story of a missed train

A Westchester County, New York woman, who works in New York City, normally takes the 5:45 pm Metro North train home from Grand Central station.  But on the afternoon of February 4th, a colleague handed her some work that she decided to complete before leaving.

Maia Barnett told the New York Post that she was five minutes too late to catch the 5:45.  So she wasn’t sitting as usual in the front car.   And it was that car that later erupted in flames after the train collided with an SUV on the track in Valhalla, New York.  She says she was shocked when she heard the news about the deadly accident that killed 5 commuters riding in that front car, as well as the SUV driver.  “I realize all those things we worry about are meaningless.  It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff and looking down.”

Barnett asked herself why she was spared, as she thought about the regular commuters she’s used to seeing every day:  “I wonder with a mixture of fear and dread whose faces I won’t see.”

And that got her to question and reflect on something we can all relate to:  “What will I do with the time that I’ve been given?”

Source: New York Post, 2/5/15