Read this if you are in a soppy mood

[AlanHo]

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 circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a 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.

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 on to 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.

You won't get any big surprise in 10 days if you send this to ten people. But, you might help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate by sending it on.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

[andsome]

Ahhhhhhhh

[AlanHo]

I suspect you are in self denial and being a bit sarcastic. Read it again and bathe in a nice warm fuzzy glow - even you must have a feminine side. That lump in your throat was not a cold coming - but emotions. The eyes watering was nowt to do with 'er indoors slicing onions and that nice light headed feeling was in no way related to the ale you just supped.

[andsome]

I suspect you are in self denial and being a bit sarcastic. Read it again and bathe in a nice warm fuzzy glow - even you must have a feminine side. That lump in your throat was not a cold coming - but emotions. The eyes watering was nowt to do with 'er indoors slicing onions and that nice light headed feeling was in no way related to the ale you just supped.

Those were genuine tears of emption. I was thoroughly moved, even though I went first thing this morning.

By the way, I do all the onion slicing in this house. :)

[artist]

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

I definately agree with this bit. :)

(This was laborious - where the hell is copy and paste in IE 7)

[rong]

Quote didn't work

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

I definately agree with this bit. smile.gif

(This was laborious - where the hell is copy and paste in IE 7)

Get Firefox

[artist]

[

(This was laborious - where the hell is copy and paste in IE 7)

Get Firefox

I tried it - I prefer IE

:)

[rong]

Are you spending to much time around a certain person?

[Besty]

Very true

Control nd C for copy control and V for paste.

[artist]

Very true

Control nd C for copy control and V for paste.

Thanks - I've put the icons on the toolbar now....... :)

[nellie2]

That brought a big lump to my throat and a tear to my eye.

My philosophy in life is; do as you would be done by, treat people the way you would wish to be treated.

Any yes, I thoroughly agree that how a person or a situation makes you feel is very much etched into ones memory

[rong]

Can't you just right click in IE to copy and then to paste.

[andsome]

I have also put copy and paste onto the tool bar, but never use it. I prefer to highlight, right click copy/paste.

What is it about so many FF users that they think that the automatic response to any IE query should be 'GET FF'? Many of us have tried it and still prefer IE.

Not wishing to hijack this thread which moved me so much :) , but I felt that a reply was called for.

[rong]

It works every time.

[dadyassa]

It works every time.

Tell him to try Opera, that works too ;)

My daughters machine has caught a nasty "IEsecurepage dot com" using IE

I will have to post Hijackthis when I get a chance.