A sweet lesson on patience.

Thought I would share this from FaceBook: (Apologies, if this has been posted already)

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.

That is amazing. Thank you for posting.

You never know how kindness may touch a life. What a gift for both the woman AND the driver.

That was a beautiful story that brought tears to my eyes.

We all could learn a lesson of being more patient at times, especially with the elderly.

Thank you for posting this story...not sure if it is true, but the moral of it still speaks volumes.

Star and Flag for you sir.

That was excellent.

As an ex-cab driver in a major metropolitan area ( Not NYC though) I can attest to moments like this taking you by surprise. After the fact, you're left questioning whether people are brought together for a reason sometimes. To teach you lessons, to make you tougher, etc.....Sometimes good, sometimes bad. There are times though because of what the driver might be going through personally at the time and the passengers he or she picks up........it just makes you wonder.

So that was the last fare of his day? I can't think of a better way to end a shift.

Thank you for that.

Ahhh It's true , there are really good people still in the world. What a touching story. What a wonderful man.

All too often these days we forget to treat others with the respect they deserve. Sometimes we miss out on a life lesson that can help us grow as a person.

This man gave a stranger an important gift asking nothing in return. I so admire him. Bless him.

Touching story. I just basically want to give it a bump. Not that many people have read it, and I don't think it should just die.

It was a nice story.

But I was expecting her to die.

Not trying to make a joke out of it or anything like that. Usually that's the way these kinds of stories go.

Sometimes we feel as though we'll live forever. In retrospect, I see how quickly the years have past, from childhood to teen, young adult to middle age...One day you wake up and you're over fifty and wonder how that happened. You watch your elderly parents, lose them and know that your turn will come soon enough.

Love your family and friends while you still can. Make wonderful memories to treasure, because one day that may be all that you have left.

reply to post by Taupin Desciple

After the fact, you're left questioning whether people are brought together for a reason sometimes. To teach you lessons, to make you tougher, etc.....Sometimes good, sometimes bad.

True. I believe people are brought together for reasons just as these...

reply to post by Night Star

Make wonderful memories to treasure, because one day that may be all that you have left.

True. Some have horrible memories they will have to endure at the time of or at death.