What I Learned During a Bus Ride With a World Class Chef
Unraveling the stories of those inches away from us
Finally. Somewhere to sit.
There was a man in the window seat.
He looked to be in his 40s. He wore a simple shirt, sleeves rolled back, black hair — seemed like a nice guy.
I could see him being an artist or something.
I turned to him.
Hi do you mind if I take a seat here?
His eyes lit up as he gestured his worn hands to the empty seat next to him.
Not at all! Welcome sir. Have a seat!
I could see him being a TV host or something.
Nah, he had a softness in his voice. I couldn’t see him talking that much.
I put my backpack down in front of my feet. I don’t mind sharing space but these buses are already small enough and man, it was so packed. I just hope this ride doesn’t take too lo —
How are you doin’?
He moved his duffel bag over to make more space for me.
Oh, I’ve been good! Just been running around a bit this morning but glad to be on the bus and be home soon. How about you?
He sat up straight and turned with a warm smile.
Good, good. Just on my way to see my daughter. She lives in Worcester. Haven’t seen her in awhile.
It was nice to hear that city mentioned from someone else. It’s close to my home and hearing it relaxed me, letting me sink into my seat, knowing that I’d be home soon.
I asked him more about his ties to Worcester and his daughter. He turned to the window and spoke about her, as if he was moving through a series of memories in his head.
He paused, took a deep breath, and continued his story.
He used to live in Worcester when he was younger and grew up cooking there. He and his brother started a restaurant in the area and soon enough, they sold it for over a million dollars when he was 17.
I tried to keep my awe in check.
Wow! That’s amazing! That’s so AMAZING!
He responded.
Ahhh yeah…it was cool.
His voice was laced with humbleness and authenticity as he shared the timeline of his life with nonchalance.
He was that kind of person who doesn’t speak too much. But you knew whenever he would, people would be listening.
I certainly was.
After he sold his restaurant, went to in Europe, got a place, and lived with all the luxury, glitz, and glamour a 17-year-old wouldn’t even know what to do with.
My eyes widened.
Who the hell was this guy?
He was making a life for themselves from a young age and traveling…and…living it big…and…damn… I wanna be this guy!
I kept asking questions, trying to keep my voice down but my eyes were practically sparkling at this point.
I tried to keep a calm tone as to not overwhelm this poor guy.
The cooking aspect was especially interesting to me. I’ve always admired those who follow unconventional paths so I wanted to hear more about that.
After a while, he returned to the US, got married, and settled down in Manhattan with his wife and daughters.
Most of his time here was spent working as the executive pastry chef for someone. When mentioned the person’s name, my jaw dropped.
I’ve seen enough Food Network to know who that was. And he worked for him?
This gentleman’s been on shows, written cookbooks, and now he’s freelancing in NYC.
Who is this guy?
After chatting for nearly an hour, it was clear he had traits as a gifted storyteller paired with insatiable curiosity about the world around him.
It was as if he looked at things and thought
Yeah I want to do that.
And he would dive in before the uncertainty and “what ifs” took over his mind.
His wise nature was evident in his tone and meditative style, reflecting on each event with thoughtfulness, not being afraid to sit in silence before continuing.
He was well-traveled. His personality and thoughts seemed to be molded from seeing so much of the world and experiencing what is has to offer.
But he didn’t show off. He spoke from the heart with a refreshing sense of humility.
He could probably tell I was about to fall out of my chair from hearing such a legendary story so he shifted the conversation and asked about me.
I gave him a rundown of my life. How I was finishing my junior year and studying business.
I honed in on how I changed my major and was trying to find a career that let me be creative and work with people. But there was just more to it that I couldn’t explain.
My focus in my career, and in life really, was to explore and think of the best way I can impact people. Whether it was through business or simple conversations, I wanted to learn about others and it would help me learn more about myself in the process.
But I wasn’t sure if I’ve been taking the right steps to reach what I was really looking for.
I went silent. I spoke too much and probably overwhelmed him.
He cleared his voice and spoke:
Well yes…that is important. If you want to do something, you go and do it. I sold my restaurant and went to another country. And man, I made mistakes. A lot of mistakes. But…that’s just life, right?
Then he took a deep sigh and looked to his right, gazing into the setting sun as the landscape shifted every second from the speed of the bus.
There were a lot of untold stories in his eyes.
Exhaustion in his voice.
We were both quiet. Then he asked if I have any work lined up for the summer.
I tried to match his tone, not wanting to force the conversation if his mind was occupied on something important to him.
I softly mentioned the internship I have for a company based in Boston.
He responded with a giddiness I hadn’t seen in the last half hour. He loved the company I was joining as they’ve helped him for many decades and he trusts the people there.
I beamed and was so proud to hear that. It was good to know that the reputation was always so positive and has already helped millions, including this man I met on the bus.
I’ve only been speaking to this man for less than an hour but hearing him say that really made me feel like I was doing something right after not knowing for so long.
He had a unique background with pursuits so far from my own. But that’s what made his words all the more special.
He cleared his throat again.
You’re gonna do well.
He stuck his hand out.
I’m Wayne. Nice to meet you.
I did the same.
Sarthak. Nice to meet you too.
We sat quietly for the next few hours but my mind was anything but silent.
What an incredible life. Of course, he’s accomplished a lot but I appreciated the way he carried himself after all these years of being in the spotlight.
My thoughts turned to the shakiness of his voice when he mentioned certain parts of his life.
I remembered what he said:
I made mistakes. A lot of mistakes.
I remembered the pauses, not knowing if he should share certain details about things going on in his life. He’s had struggles just like everybody else.
Just like you. And just like me.
Moments where we tend to get in our own ways. Moments filled with uncertainty that build up over years to the point where we forget who we are.
He made me realize that the highlights of a person’s life make them accomplished but remembering their struggles makes them human.
Growing up we all say we’ll have things figured out in our adult years. When we reach that point, we think our time’s just hasn’t come yet.
By the time we’re older we realize that we’re all just winging it and moving through this unpredictable journey of life together.
There’s something comforting knowing that the world keeps moving with all the people in it. We’re all figuring it out together.
My mind wandered, thinking about the stories of the person who’s sitting across from me. What their life’s been like, what gets them excited, what get them sad, their philosophies, and what keeps them going.
The nuances of their storytelling would give me a deeper look into who they are. The pauses, the sighs, the body language. All of that would factor into who they are and what made them human.
I just sat back and thought about the people I rushed through today. The baby who smiled at a police officer. The officer who waved back. The gentleman who played his saxophone on the subway. The woman who helped me find my bus.
And the man who I’ve been sitting next to for hours.
The world is really interesting. There are millions out there who we can learn from. People who can challenge our perspectives, inspire us with their journeys, and show us how they live.
I heard the bus slow down before coming to a complete stop.
We reached Worcester.
He walked down the bus steps and I followed after him.
As I grabbed my bag, he turned to me.
Pleasure chatting with you. Good luck…in uh…life haha!
I wished him the same and we walked our separate ways. I couldn’t stop thinking about the nature of the conversation.
It was just surreal. I got on a bus, thinking I’d just sit quietly for a few hours, close my eyes, and listen to some music.
Instead, I had a profound conversation.
I learned about the beauty that surrounds us every day. The billions of lives out there. The billions of stories in the hearts of these people.
Sometimes I wonder what that man is up to and I hope he knows how much an hour of conversation meant to me.
He inspired me to look into all the stories around me. To think of the tales woven in them.
Speaking to him let me know that it’s alright to not have it all figured out right now.
Everything will fall in place in time. The best I could do was align my heart with my goals and continue to learn from the people in this world.
I’ll keep doing that.
Thanks Wayne.
