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Sunday, October 25, 2009

Inspirational Sunday: The Cab Ride

I received this in an email. It's a wonderful story, and a great reminder that what we do may effect someone in ways we don't even know.
Have a wonderful Sunday!!


The Cab Ride

So I walked 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 1940s 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 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. '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.


PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID,
~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

6 comments:

  1. It brought tears at my eyes! So beautiful story!

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  2. That gave me goosebumps, thank you! If you don't mind, I'd love to use that myself on my blog.... let me know if that is okay :)
    Take care,
    Meg

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  3. What a blessing!


    Have a wonderful Sunday and enjoy the things you have in life!


    http://christiecottage.blogspot.com

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  4. What a sweet story and a gentle reminder of how we should treat others.

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  5. I loved this story even though it brought tears to my eyes and heart. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

    Willow

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  6. Wow that was a wonderful story,i held on to every word you said...I really enjoyed it so much and it meant alot too. It's so nice to take time out of our lives to do things for people that may at the time seem like nothing but it may have been the best day of her whole life...WOW Thank you so much for that..keep up the great blogs..love it kathy Mercurio YIM kmercurio2000 love to keep seeing all your work and get your website on my favs so i can see all your work too....great stuff..I just started my own website and i am only two days into it and its alot of work for its antiques ,antique linens so beautiful,jewelry,pocketbooks, handmade scented items..all types..stopped doing that but love it and will continue again. I wanted a website and yrs ago had one woman who did one and never finished and took all my money and i never did it again.Well...now i am back and really have so much i have bought and things i love to share...I am parting with antiques so rare i want to keep it but i need to downsize..so its time to sell to someone who will appreciate all I have ...Hope fully!!
    Well thanks for that ,I loved your story...kathy at www.kathysboxofhiddentreasures.com just see me in a few weeks things will be better and fine tuned...getting use to this whole thing.Have a wonderful week kathy:)

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