On the express train from the Toronto airport to Union Station, I sat with Swifties.

More accurately, I said “Are you going to the Eras Tour” to the woman in the seat in front of me. She had long dark blond hair and wore a “NOT A LOT GOING ON AT THE MOMENT” t-shirt, like the one Taylor Swift wears in the ’22’ video.

As the woman turned around to see who asked the question, another woman leaned in from above. “Can we sit with you?” she said as she and her friend tumbled into the seats next to me and the NOT A LOT woman. Clashing perfumes duked it out around me.

“You’re going to the Taylor Swift concert?” said a male voice behind me. When I turned around and said I was, he said he didn’t like her music. I asked what kind of music he did like.

“Rock. And she’s got nothing close to rock.”

Then the man criticized her relationship with Travis Kelce and added a malicious comment. He spoke with such assurance I assumed he had met Kelce.

I went along with what the man said. Didn’t question, didn’t offer my opinion.

When I swiveled back in my seat, the NOT A LOT woman peered at me through the gap between the gray-green seats.

”As long as she’s happy, that’s what matters.”

I agreed. The NOT A LOT woman repeated, “As long as she’s happy, that’s what matters.” She never broke eye contact. Her words were measured, her message was clear.

Swifties stand up for the Queen and I had not.

I’m still learning. Still learning to ask rather than assume. Still learning that love isn’t love without truth. Still learning to say what I think, even to a stranger on a train.

Chewing the Cud of Good

PS: Yes, this image is smaller than they used to be. I overhauled my website and we’re working out a few kinks.