Unexpected Moment in NYC

I was in NYC in early August for a quick 24 hours before heading other places on the east coast for a friend's engagement party & to visit family. The morning I was leaving, I went to grab a coffee & a bagel & walk through Washington Square Park when this guy flagged me down & taught me how to play chess.

He's one of the infamous chess hustlers & has been playing in the park for 30 years, at that table for 15 years. I was super apprehensive because I had limited time before I had to check out of my hotel & catch a train & also did NOT know how to play chess. He said "sit down & just let me tell you a story real quick then." I just felt like I had to sit down & listen to what he had to say. The way he spoke was intriguing & I could tell his storytelling capabilities were unique.

In 15 minutes, I knew the foundation to his life story. It was elegant. Storytelling is something I was actively working on at the time that this interaction happened (& still am). I asked, "how did you become such a great storyteller?" He told me it was practice & understanding people. He knows his audience & he knows how not to waste words. How can you paint the picture & feeling for the person you are talking to without wasting time.

& then he proceeded to teach me the fundamentals of chess in a 45 minute window. I was just sitting there hanging on to every word he had to say & just feeling so lucky to be learning from this person. He explained chess as if it was a battlefield & you needed to win the war. Another moment where I think he knew how to describe it in a way that spoke to me.

Was I late to check out of my hotel? Yes. Was it worth it? Also, yes.