A Story to Start your Day...

[cgjane]

From this page:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...4456890&type=1

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

Have a good day TRF!

[cedargrove]

Great story. Thanks for sharing this.

[Dan Pierce]

A lesson for us all. Take the time to smell the roses, they're all around us.
dP

[TSW]

Thanks for sharing this great story

[MonBK]

I hope I find a cab driver like that on my last ride.

[FeelingTheBlues]

Touching story, thank you for sharing indeed.

[Frogman4me]

We should all stop and appreciate everyone that God places us to meet, you never know what kind of impact you could have in their lives.

That was pleasant to read, thank you for sharing :)

[mbuckley]

Nice story--brought a tear to my eye. very nice!

[Brunotheboxer]

Sad and nice at the same time.

[G8RDPM]

Great story.

[Dr.B]

Nice story.....quite moving.

[Grissom]

Thank you for sharing this story......I can only hope that I will be able to be "that cab driver", each and every time I get the opportunity!

[nick c]

good stuff

[Sarajevo]

Nice story. It is sad as it makes you realise that every life ends in death, and happy as it reminds you of the essentially good nature of people.

[s4rest]

Excellent story. Thanks for sharing!

[HERITAGE82]

Thank you for sharing... really makes you think!

[hbbfam]

Very nice. You did good.

[rodrob59]

What a great story.

[z32turbo]

Thanks for sharing.

[MoBe]

Time waits for no man,,,,,,,,you don`t need a Rolex to know what time it is.

[zama]

The truth really is that happiness comes from the smallest things, research has shown some of the poorest people in slums in India are happier in life than those of us who have so much. Possessions don't make us happier, but they are medicine to our hectic lives. Experiences are always more powerful than the "stuff" we own.

[Bangel]

A very poignant story. It reminds me to treat others kindly and unassumingly. Even our simplest actions can resonate profoundly with those around us.

[DiamondJack]

Originally Posted by Bangel

A very poignant story. It reminds me to treat others kindly and unassumingly. Even our simplest actions can resonate profoundly with those around us.

My sentiments exactly

[tranny]

And then he went back and burglarized her now empty house.

[Andad]

We can always count on you Steve.

Nice story.

[bayerische]

Excellent story!!!

Humanity at its best.

[cgjane]

Be nice to strangers.

[fusionstorm]

Dang, too early in the morning to read something so heartwarming and sad......