Vanderbilt

Yesterday I was walking down the stairs to the subway platform and when I turned the corner, I realized there was a train just about to close the doors and head off. So I made a dash for it and was able to squeeze myself into an already fully car without the doors slamming shut on me. Luckily I was only pressed up to the door for one stop. Some people left, more came in and I was able to move to a better spot, further in the car. I was even able to pull out my book and read while hanging on - all while wearing heels. Needless to say, my full attention was not on the book (even though I had just gotten to the part where Thomas Beckett is murdered by some of Henry II’s vassals and the western world is in an uproar). My attention would wonder to people watching – especially through the reflections on the windows while we were underground. The guy to my right was scrolling through apps on his iphone - one handed. The guy on my left was hanging on too but what struck me was the leather bracelet he was wearing. I did a double take because it had simply written one word – Vanderbilt. What did it mean? Did it mean he was a Vanderbilt? I looked at him sideways and he had nice clothes on, but then again would a Vanderbilt be taking the crowded subway during rush hour? Was there a Vanderbilt brand I wasn’t aware of? Kind of like Chanel or something. I guess more like Abercrombie & Fitch based on the style. It was a weird moment. I knew there must be a better explanation. I was tempted to ask but, well I didn’t. Even with my recent “encounters” on the subway I’ve posted previously (BTW, I added to the previous post because I realized I completely forgot about the graffiti art part). I looked it up today to see if google could shed some more light. And it did. And it was obvious. And you all are probably yelling at your screens (ok not yelling, because why would you be that invested in this). But it turns out there’s a school in Nashville – Vanderbilt University. Which, once I found this out, realized I knew about but just didn’t think of. I’m not really into sports and I think that’s what it’s best known for. So there is that puzzle solved. Or was it? I checked out the online store for the University to see if I could find the leather bracelet so I could include the picture in this post. But it wasn’t there. Which made me wonder, why didn’t it say “Vanderbilt University”? So maybe, just maybe, it was an actual Vanderbilt I was standing next to on the subway during Monday’s crowded rush hour home. (and who was so cool he wore a bracelet with his name on it).