Beautiful Story....

THE CAB RIDE Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these cir****tances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But, I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. 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 80'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, 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 inten****ching 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, 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. Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance. Every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God

that is great KD. i wish there were more people like that still around!

wow, what a beautiful story indeed...thanks for sharing

That made my eyes leak.

K D, I read this a long time ago, but took the time to read it again, very nice, how sensitive of you to post it! BTW, are we ever gonna know what your name is??? -Flávia

Ha Ha Ha.... I apologize for not disclosing my name before. Karl

This story reminded me of why I love my job so much. Every once in a great while I get the honor of really touching someone's life and it ends up enriching me so much that I think I'd work for free some days!! Thanks for sharing! Jan

You touched someone's life many years ago and you were meant to be the cab driver that night because you were her angel. Today you are mine. Last Monday I lost my job with no rhyme or reason as to why I was let go. I have managed over 30 people in my career hoping that I could make their lives better by being an understanding and caring boss (ofcourse making money for the company too ). I always gave 100% to my people because I knew other managers would not care that their child had an illness, or that they were going through a divorce, or that they were dealing with the loss of a loved one. I read the line you typed about "People may not remember what you did or said, but they will remember how you made them feel" and I just burst into tears. I had been holding it in all week. I felt I was put in this position to help others and now I am let go. I know things happen for a reason and I need to keep my faith in knowing that I trust God, but I still worry. Thank you for your beautiful story to help brighten my day. You know, maybe that woman was your angel too?

Marcie, I am so sorry to hear about your recent job loss. I work in Heathrow as a manager and we are always looking for caring managers with a good work ethic. Right now you are feeling so wounded and confused, my heart goes out to you. Drop me a line whenever if you care to chat to me about my company some time. Take care. Amy

Hi Marcie: The same thing happened to me after 7 years with a company. I gave it 110% all the time. But it is true. Things happen for a reason. I ended up starting my own business and am loving life right now. I am sorry to hear about what happened to you but this will be a start of a new chapter in your life. And one day you will look back and realize I should have made that move earlier. By the way... I wish I wrote this story. I read it the other day and it made me feel so good about life. I wanted to share it with my AMOS friends. I think I already have a couple angels up there.