THE LAST CAB RIDE
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..
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.
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
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.
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.
To assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly
Toward the curb.
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.'
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,
Address and then asked,
'Could you drive through downtown?'
'It's not the shortest way,'
I answered quickly..
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.'
'The doctor says I don't have very long.'
I quietly reached over and shut off the
Meter.
Meter.
'What route would you like me to take?'
I asked.
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.
Elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood
Where she and her husband had lived
When they were newlyweds.
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.
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.
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
'I'm tired. Let's go now
'
We drove in silence
To the address she had given me.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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..
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.
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?
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.
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.
Revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware -
Beautifully wrapped in
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.
MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY
WHAT YOU DID, OR
WHAT YOU SAID. BUT THEY WILL
ALWAYS REMEMBER
HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.
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
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...
Thank you, my friend...
Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we are here
we might as well dance
but while we are here
we might as well dance
