Dad jokes, a near miss, love at first sight

Hi friends,

Welcome to this edition of Connect x3, a biweekly newsletter featuring stories about moments of connection. I hope you enjoy this edition's stories. They involve shared dad jokes, a near-missed train and love at first sight. 

Connect soon,

Katie 

This week's 3: 

Kebabs, shared sentiments, and dad jokes:

It was a chilly mid-January day in the Netherlands, where I live.  I went up north to meet the directors of the company where I work, traveling almost three hours for a one-hour meeting. After successfully closing on some agreements, I bounced out and ordered an Uber to get me to Amsterdam Centraal for my train journey home. My Uber arrived and I greeted the driver. As soon as I got in the car, he praised my name (Jesús) and my background (Mexican by birth). After briefly introducing myself, I moved on to ask about him. He was from Iran and had two daughters. He proudly mentioned that Iranian kebabs are the best if they're made by Iranian hands. "And that," he told me, "requires some additional cost."

He also shared that if it weren't for his daughters, he would move to the U.S. In a way, I thought, if not for my partner, job and some good friends, I would move to Mexico.

The man at the wheel told me I was a kind passenger and he was going to help me avoid the common traffic jams of Amsterdam’s outer ring. I just smiled and thanked him. He said that it was his 6-year-old daughter's birthday and that morning, he gave her a splendid surprise that made her cry. A few days before, the little girl told her loving father what she wished for as a present, before adding that at school she learned that Jesus comes first and parents second. "Well then, you should ask Jesus to provide you with the gift you want," he joked with her. 

My Mexican Christian dad used to tell me the very same thing. 

Intrigued by the story, I asked what happened. He said that he made his daughter’s wish come true and that made me smile. That's real happiness, I realized: a father surprising his daughter and seeing her eyes sparkle with pure joy.

The trip finished right at the doorstep of Amsterdam’s main train station. I thanked him for getting me to my destination safe and sound and wished him more time to continue enjoying his kids and his life. 

- Jesus Manuel Esparza Serrano, Eindhoven, the Netherlands

Just in time: 

I didn't think I'd make it, but I was going to try. As I skipped down the subway stairs, I could hear the train pulling in. 

Get out phone. Pull mask down and unlock it with face ID. Scan phone at the turnstile to pay for my subway fare. As I completed all these steps, I could see my chariot — the uptown-bound 1 train — getting ready to depart. 

Then, I spotted him: the man who controlled my fate. I quickly got the conductor's attention by waving as I rushed through the turnstile. 

And then my hope faded as I heard the train doors close. I sighed with disappointment, but then he signaled to the right. "Miss, that door's open. You can make it," he told me, pointing the way to my ticket to actually arriving somewhere on time. 

"Thank you, thank you!" I yelled to him as I hopped through the open door just before he closed it and carried us on our way. 

- Katie Perkowski, New York

Love at first sight:

I walked into the room not knowing what to expect. As I entered, people were everywhere. I immediately noticed a group of people on the far side of the room and their energy pulled me that way. As I moved closer, I saw her and I knew they were all here for her, and I could immediately see why. She had a glow about her. Her eyes were so alert and so alive, and suddenly, they were looking at me, just me. Without any words, I knew that she was mine and I was hers. She could have commanded me to do anything and I would have. Never in my life had I felt this alive! I knew immediately that we would be together the rest of my life.

It was love at first sight. Overwhelmed with emotions, I suddenly realized that tears were falling down my face. I turned, headed for the door, still crying as I hit the hallway. I needed a phone. I had to call someone and announce this amazing moment in my life.

I dialed my mom and dad. Mom answered. “Hi Mom! You have a beautiful granddaughter, and her name is Katie.”

- Mike Perkowski, Memphis

This week's prompt: 'Car crash' dating stories 

With Valentine's Day approaching, I'm inviting you to share a different type of connection moment: 'car crash' dating stories. That isn't to say I hope any of these dates involved an actual car crash — but maybe they made you feel like you'd been in one by the time they were over. And maybe (I think likely) they'll make someone else feel seen and inspire some giggles.

I'd love to hear from you, and I in fact need your help. To keep this newsletter going and this community growing, I'm reliant on subscribers like you to submit their own short stories about moments of connection they've experienced.

It's a simple process:

• Think of a moment of connection you've experienced — it doesn't have to be recent, and it doesn't have to be related to the weekly prompt.

• Jot it down — in your head, on a piece of paper, in your phone, wherever. No need to get fancy or long, and those who consider themselves to be amateur writers (or not writers at all) preferred ;)

• Click the button below to send your story, and leave the rest to me!

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