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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: cateyes1 on March 03, 2016, 05:54:41 am
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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 answered.
'You have to make a living,' she said.
'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.
At the bottom of this great story was a
request to forward this - I deleted that
request because if you have read to this
point, you won't have to be asked to
pass it along, you just will...
Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we are here
we might as well dance.
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That was probably one of the most beautiful things I read in a long time. It honestly brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing.
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How touching! You never know what small jester, kind word, simple deed, etc. would and could mean to someone else.
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I've read this dozens of times but love it every time. thanks for sharing!
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That was such a nice story, thanks for sharing!
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I Loved It! One of the best, if not THE best, post I have ever read on here...or many other places. Thanks, thanks, thanks, for sharing this.
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That's a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing it!
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wow, thanks for sharing your story. Remember that story forever. You got to witnessed the end of her story here on earth.
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That is worth remembering...thank you.
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Thank you for sharing this post.
It is the one of the most moving things I have read.
So often we go through our days/lives without appreciating the value we can give to another person; or in reverse, that they can give to us.
Whether it is a smile, a touch, a few minutes of our time.....
this story shares a great lesson.
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Wow .. that was so sweet .. definitely touched my heart.
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I don't like stories like that; I hate tearing up in public ;) Thank you very much for sharing such a touching story!
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What a beautifully touching story. I admit I read it a couple of times. It's nice to know that some people can see outside of their immediate desires to help and connect with another person. I'll definitely be passing this along. Thank you.
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Touching...makes me stop and think...thanks for sharing....
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This was such a touching and beautiful story, as I read along I kept wondering how the story would end, boy was I in for a big surprise. I am sure that you bought some joy to her life and yours as well. Thank you for sharing.
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I haven't ridden in a Cab in years. The last one was so filled with the smell of smoke it was sickening. It was awful, so I got out of one cab to another that was smelling fresh.
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Ive read that many times over the years, and it always makes me cry
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That was one of the best stories I have ever read. It was so sweet that it made my cry to think that someone could be so kind to an elderly person. There are so few in this life that would have been this kind.
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Have never read that before but it made me tear up. That had me really think. That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing.