A lovely and thought-provoking story

Monkey_Monkey_Underpants

Not quite normal
[SUB]Somebody sent me this, and I thought I'd pass it on. Do comment if it speaks to you!
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[SUB]The [/SUB]
[SUB]Taxi Ride[/SUB]
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I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
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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 film.

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 knick-knacks 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 kerb.

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 town?'

'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 in a soft voice. '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 a lift operator.

We drove through the neighbourhood 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 assistants 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 boot 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 got 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 might help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate by passing this on and reminding us that often it is the random acts of kindness that most benefit all of us.


Thank you, my friend... [/SUB]
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Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.
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Beautiful. for some reason it made me think of the teacher who saved my life once. I was at my lowest, feeling invisible and he asked if I was ok and invited me into his office for a chat. He could have walked past like everyone else, but he didn't and I'll never forget it xxx
 
I have tears in my eyes. I know it's not the same but I am training to be a midwife and I feel like this, that people will always remember that moment for the rest of their lives, and I feel humbled to be a part of it.

Lovely story xxxx
 
Very moving, I've had beautiful moments when a strangers kindness have remained with me all my life.
 
what a lovely story.
i used to be a girl guide and we had to do one good deed a day well that was 10 years ago and im still doing my one good deed a day. x

this world needs more kind people x
 
Lovely story, thanks for posting :)

I work with elderly people and have done all my working life and its amazing what I learn and find out day to day.

These people have been through so much and fought so hard for us to all have the lives we have now and yet there are still many people that don't have the time for a simple "hello" or a smile even.

Alot of elderly people don't see many people day to day and its amazing how a little gesture, something that you wouldn't even think would make a difference actually makes their day :)
 
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