For Tonitits...
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tonitits
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Daniel's mentor sent the following email to him and I passed it on to my friends and wanted to share it with you here.
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, 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 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, 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
it to ten people.
But, you might help make the world a little kinder and
more compassionate by sending it on.
Thank you, my friend....
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, 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 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, 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
it to ten people.
But, you might help make the world a little kinder and
more compassionate by sending it on.
Thank you, my friend....
Jacqline
Compassionate Temptress
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2001
- Posts
- 8,645
I have always loved that story. It seems to come back around at Christmas time, which is a good thing. People need to be reminded sometimes how the smallest kindness can make the biggest impact.
{{{{{{{{{Toni}}}}}}}}}}
Hope your weekend is going well!
Jacqline
{{{{{{{{{Toni}}}}}}}}}}
Hope your weekend is going well!Jacqline
tonitits
MS. T
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Jacqline said:I have always loved that story. It seems to come back around at Christmas time, which is a good thing. People need to be reminded sometimes how the smallest kindness can make the biggest impact.
{{{{{{{{{Toni}}}}}}}}}}
Jacqline
(((((((((((Jacqline))))))))) thanks, the weekend has been pretty good. Of course, my weekend starts tomorrow, lol. I got most of my Christmas shopping done and we got the tree up and Daniel did most of the decorations. Now I am not a Scroogette, as AA says! Sending lots of good vibes and best wishes to your daughter this week. Sorry to hear she broke a rib!
alwaysawake
Beaver Believer
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- Jan 23, 2002
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- 23,179
Great story, toni!tonitits said:
Feistyred16
Ginger Nut
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- Jan 8, 2003
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- 8,454
Good Morning Toni...Trade ya weather...lol
Hope all is well in your part of the world...
Have a great day!
Hope all is well in your part of the world...
Have a great day!
tonitits
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Feistyred16 said:Good Morning Toni...Trade ya weather...lol
Hope all is well in your part of the world...
Have a great day!
Thanks Fiesty. Thanks for dropping by. Right now there are clouds and windy, but it is supposed to warm up into the 70's today! Have a great one!
alwaysawake
Beaver Believer
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Toni (the TX HOT AIR Queen) + her jaws flapping = Warm weather in TX!tonitits said:
LMAO
Jacqline
Compassionate Temptress
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2001
- Posts
- 8,645
tonitits said:Good morning to all my friends. Hope you have a wonderful day!
Jacqline - have my fingers crossed, hoping for the very best with your daughter, anxiously awaiting the arrival of that beautiful baby girl!
Thank you, sweetie! Let's see, my daughter will be induced tomorrow night.........she should have that little girl by Friday morning...........whoopeee!!!!
Jacqline
tonitits
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Jacqline said:Thank you, sweetie! Let's see, my daughter will be induced tomorrow night.........she should have that little girl by Friday morning...........whoopeee!!!!
Jacqline
I think I am almost as excited as you! Probably not, you are probably alot more so! But can't wait to hear about the beautiful baby and how her mom is doing! Sending lots of good, healing vibes her way today!!!! ((((((((((((Jacqline)))))))))
Jacqline
Compassionate Temptress
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2001
- Posts
- 8,645
tonitits said:I think I am almost as excited as you! Probably not, you are probably alot more so! But can't wait to hear about the beautiful baby and how her mom is doing! Sending lots of good, healing vibes her way today!!!! ((((((((((((Jacqline)))))))))
{{{{{{{{{{{{{Toni}}}}}}}}}}}}}}I will make sure to tell you as soon as I get home from work on Friday. (Unless I get a call in the middle of the night tonight or early tomorrow morning.)
Thanks for all your good vibes.....you are such a special friend
Jacqline
EarthquakeMan
Cameo Appearance
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Merry Christmas to one of the nicest people in all of Lit Land.
http://www.tvparty.com/vgifs8/rudolph2.gif
http://www.tvparty.com/vgifs8/rudolph2.gif
tonitits
MS. T
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EarthquakeMan said:Merry Christmas to one of the nicest people in all of Lit Land.
http://www.tvparty.com/vgifs8/rudolph2.gif
Thank you and I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and that the coming year brings you lots of blessings.
(((((((((((Michael and Elizabeth)))))))))))))
tonitits
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Jacqline said:MY LITTLE ANGEL WAS BORN AT 4:44PM COLORADO TIME. SHE WAS 6LB 13 OZ AND 19.5 INCHES LONG. BOTH MOTHER AND DAUGHTER ARE DOING JUST FINE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS!
Jacqline
(((((((((((Jacqline and Family)))))))))) I am so happy for you! I am so glad that everything went well for them!
tonitits
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cookiejar said:
Thank you Cookie! I hope that you and Slick have the best Christmas and New Year around!
(((((((((((Cookie)))))))))))))))
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