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A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

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.. '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.

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 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, '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 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 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, 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.

It's always good to be reminded of how decent people can be.

Beautiful story.

Thanks for sharing

This was beautiful! Wish people spread more of the love around like this guy did.

What a great story and guy.

Thank you so much for sharing!

CABucky saidIt's always good to be reminded of how decent people can be.

YES it is.. and that, my friend, is what keeps me going!

How very moving, thanks for sharing

You should have a voice recording of this story as the tl;dr option.

Great Story!!

Great story. Good man.

Beautiful story. I will pass it on for others to experience.
Thanks.

This reminded me of a cab driver I had when I was in NYC 3 months ago.

I just finished a meeting with advisers at NYU and I had to rush back to my hotel for my debate conference. I got a cab driver and we had a nice conversation about my college and future plans. He told me about his son going to college and how he wished he could be more proactive like me.

When we arrived to the hotel I gave he a "nice" type, but he refused to take it because he said I'm young and I need to save this money for college. I said again he should take it because he deserves it, but he still refused. While I went up to the conference room to continue my debate I couldn't help but smile about this guy. I wish I got his name. He was by far the nicest cab driver I have ever had.

FilmGuy18_notporn saidThis reminded me of a cab driver I had when I was in NYC 3 months ago.

I just finished a meeting with advisers at NYU and I had to rush back to my hotel for my debate conference. I got a cab driver and we had a nice conversation about my college and future plans. He told me about his son going to college and how he wished he could be more proactive like me.

When we arrived to the hotel I gave he a "nice" type, but he refused to take it because he said I'm young and I need to save this money for college. I said again he should take it because he deserves it, but he still refused. While I went up to the conference room to continue my debate I couldn't help but smile about this guy. I wish I got his name. He was by far the nicest cab driver I have ever had.

*tip

ahh I'm not focusing

That was beautiful - thanks for sharing it with us!

I wonder if the taxi driver ever felt inclined to visit her after dropping her off...?

I obviously started bawling. lol

This is where my life is at lol. Crying at stories like this. Good to know my black ice chunk of a heart still has something left.

This totally made my day. Thanks for posting.

that was suppose to make someone cry?



lol at all the "that made my day" posts. Go save a tree.

How backwards douchey of me... thanks for posting, good read.

"This made my day" thank you. Seriously, today sucked and reading this shows ppl still care.

Lyric said
lol at all the "that made my day" posts. Go save a tree.

whatever

u did good...

This tore me up (in a good way). Thanks for posting.

We often forget to appreciate the beautiful small things in life. Thanks for the reminder.

Sometimes we forget what gives our lives meaning and I think it's the moments like this. Truly beautiful story.

I saw this story attached to a photo of a little old lady on Facebook. It's a nice story, but I wonder how much (if any) of it is real.

Yes, it's a nice story....

http://www.realjock.com/gayforums/2340314

well color me impressed, turns out to be true.

at least according to snopes.