Jamie Teo sent me tis touching email...sighs...moved me to tears..
Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living.
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 pillbox 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 said. I took the suitcase to
the cab, and 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 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.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT 'YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, ~BUT ~ THEY
WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as
well dance. Every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.
A friend walks in when
everyone else walks out!
really meaningful dun uall tink?:) my tots: touch the lives of people around u.and u can find peace within oneself. no matter how others treat u,if they are mean,do not act the same way.just smile and still always b there for them if they need u.do not subccumb to evil and commit evil.never hurt others...esp with words.
wonder y im so totful today.the past wk reading my tagboard has caused many feelings to surface.im not so sure abt anyting anymore.the one ting im sure of is that while i cnt ask others to treat me w kindness.i can still treat everyone with kindness.
cyan i hope ull feel beta after reading that.
ying i really miss u loads i cnt imagine life w/o u wen u go for ur hols.
josh i hope ur feeling ok.i admit ive not been there the way u hv been for me.i promise thats gng to change.
eugene get well soon:)
alexius,i realised ur a super great pal after u being there for josh last nite.really touched man.
ambrose,challenge dota soon again.
to all my buddies and friends having As and Os now...hang in there!the worst is ending!
to my class.haven been w u guys for like a week.the longest ever...really fls wierd and i really miss ya loads.
and dear elvina my laughaholic partner!i miss u!where were u on fri?
and yihan!!!long time no tok!!!
and to everybody else-
SELAMAT HARI RAYA
dats all the tots i can generate at the moment.
(: :)