Cab Ride.

Post  69 - - - -  Friday, 17 November 2006.

Hello again my friends, I hope you are all doing OK, as I am.

It has been a better day, today without the strong winds that

we have had.  And our temperature is heading for 30 C plus, so

that will be more normal for this time of year.  I have been 

having trouble with my printer and anyone who knows me, knows

that is not good.  I tend to print a lot.  Maybe it’s tired !!!

I have a really nice story for you tonight that was sent to me by
my good friend  Tammy  and I hope you will enjoy it. But be warned,
you may need a tissue.  Thank you so much Tammy.

It is called  “Cab  ride.”

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One night I responded

to a call to a house in the less-affluent part of town.  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, and 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 pill box
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 asked.  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, 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.  "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 w ould sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she softly 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.

 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 sending this story on.

Thank you, my friend...

<><><><><><>  That cab driver was a good guy !!

Now for some jokes - - - -

A little pig enters a pub, goes over to the bar, orders a beer,
swills it, goes to the toilet and then leaves.

Soon a second little pig arrives and goes over to the bar,
orders a beer, swills it, goes to the toilet, then leaves,

Soon another little pig enters the bar, orders a beer, swills it
down, then goes to leave.

The barman asks : “Aren’t you going to the toilet ?”

The little pig answers : “No, don’t you know?  I’m the little pig
who goes wee wee wee all way home.”

Sorry about that one !!

While watching back to back sport on television, a man got into
a conversation with his wife about life and death.

He told her he never wanted to exist in a vegetative state,
dependent on some machine and taking fluids from a bottle.

She got up, unplugged the TV and threw out all his beer !!

<><><><>

A blonde decides to learn and try horse-back riding without the
benefit of any lessons.  She mounts the horse with great effort.
The tall shiny horse springs into motion.  It gallops along at a
steady speed, but the blonde begins to slip from the saddle.

Out of sheer terror, she grabs the horse’s mane, but cannot
seem to get a firm grip.  She tries to throw her arms around
the horse’s neck, but she slides down the side ot the horse
anyway. The horse gallops along, oblivious to it’s slipping rider.

Finally, giving up her frail grip she leaps away from the horse to
try to throw herself to safety.  Unfortunately, her foot is
entangled in the stirrup.

She is now at the mercy of the horse’s pounding hooves, as her
head is struck to the ground again and again.

She is only minutes away from unconsciousness or even death,
when the K-Mart manager runs out to turn the horse off !!!

Sorry about that one too !!

A very few quotes as this is getting too long  - - -

Happiness may be a warm puppy, but joy is having a good friend 
to share your life with.

Just in time, sweltering summer gives way to brisk autumn.
Each of life’s seasons can bring welcome change.

Bye for now folks, Have a wonderful weekend. Merle.

Post   69  - - - - Friday, 17 November 2006.