Many years ago a taxi cab driver had to pick up a passenger in the middle of the night. When he arrived at the address, the building was dark, except a light in a ground floor window. Many drivers would wait for a couple of minutes and drive away in such circumstances. But he thought of passengers that might need his assistance. Therefore he went to the door and knocked. and heard a weak voice of an elderly woman: „Just a minute“. The door opened and he saw a small lady in her 80‘s, wearing a dress and a pillbox hat. She had a small suitcase in her hands.
Driver took the lady‘s suitcase and helped her to walk to the cab. „Thank you for your kindness” – she said. „It‘s nothing” – The driver said. „ I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated“. „You are a very decent person.”
When they got into the cab, lady told the address and asked: „Could you drive through downtown?” Driver told her, that it was not the shortest way. „I know, but there is no rush, as I am on my way to a hospice. I have no family left“. He noticed tears in her eyes.
He quietly switched of the meter and asked what route would she like him to take. While they drove through the city, the old lady showed the driver the places that were important to her: the building where she worked as an elevator operator, the house where she and her husband lived just after the marriage, the warehouse, where was a ballroom many years ago, so she went dancing there, when she was a young girl. After two hours of driving she silently said: „I‘m tired, let‘s go now“.
As soon as they arrived at the address lady given him, two orderlies came out to the cab. They seemed to be waiting for her. Driver took the lady‘s suitcase, while she was seated in a wheelchair. “Tell me, how much I owe you?” she asked. Driver said that she owes him nothing. „But you have to make a living“. „There are other passengers“, – He replied and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. „Thank you for giving me those moments of joy”, – she said.
When Driver was walking to the cab heard a door shut. Sounded like closing of person‘s life.
That day Driver did not pick up any more passengers, He just drove without any purpose, lost in thoughts about the old lady. What if she had gotten an angry or indifferent driver, who was impatient to end his shift? He realize that this drive was the most important thing he have done in his life.
We always look for a great moments, but sometimes great moments catch us unaware, beautifully wrapped in what might be considered as nothing particular.
SHARE IF YOU LIKED THIS…