A sweet lesson on patience.

[DainBramaged]

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.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151028277535658&set=a.10150523921480658.372668.270212045657&type=1

[Avalux]

1. My co-workers are going to wonder why I'm crying.....

that is quite touching and beautiful. If only every human being on this planet had that taxi driver's compassion and patience....what a world it would be. Thank you for posting it.

[garthranzz]

2. Sharing everywhere -

Thanks so much for posting this.

[reflection]

3. I want this to be real.

So I will assume it is. Because I'd hate to cry for no reason.

[patrice]

4. A sense of the authentically sacred shows us how small things are important and quite powerful. nt

[DainBramaged]

7. One of the most beautiful stories I've read this year.

I cannot think under any circumstance it's not real.



BIG tears ever time I read it, big tears.

[patrice]

9. There is real magic in this story. That's an odd thing about life; you don't

really need the bullshit to see what really is there.

Thanks! for posting, DainBramaged, sat nam!

[CrispyQ]

5. Thank you for sharing.

K&R

[wendylaroux]

6. Thank you for this,

hadn't planned on crying this early.Glad I read this.

[Raster]

8. Thank you for posting.

[StrictlyRockers]

10. Made me cry, too.

A touching story.

[malaise]

11. I think I saw this before but I'm still crying

It is truly beautiful

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. Before you start insulting DUers, you might do a bit of research.

A quick look at Snopes indicates that this story is actually true. Strangely enough, some stuff on Facebook is occasionally true. In any event, we will continue to post what we want in accordance with DU's TOS. You are, of course, free to ignore anything that doesn't meet your lofty standards of seriousness.

[msanthrope]

15. How tired can you be? You only just got here. nt

[Mopar151]

19. Hey, you

I don't like you very much. I'm sure some other folks will explain why. DB is one of the most respected posters on this board, as is VO who authenticated the story via Snopes. I get the idea that you and respect aren't well acquainted......

Brings this song to mind.....

and this

[ebuendia]

21. Well I like you just fine.

Just like I like all DU'rs But sometimes one has to speak their mind, no? Let's stop bickering and stick to Dem Progressive issues. And how we're going to help get our people elected.

Oh, and stop embedding videos. That's one of my pet peeves too. My iPad hates that. And what's with all the emoticons? Seriously.

[Mopar151]

23. Empathy is a major issue in this election

As is Tagg Rommney's trying to keep a hospice out of his neighborhood. I'm going out for a coupla days, so I'll leave the aisle cleanup to some folks who'll be along shortly.

[redqueen]

48. It should be a major issue for everyone, all their lives.

It could change the world.

[Mopar151]

62. Right on the mark TIR .001 Datum -A-

^^= tir There are people in the world who would rather make a nickel by cheating you of a dollar than make a dollar by getting a nickel for you. They need to go now, as we are running low on fresh victims.

[Vinnie From Indy]

31. Do you have any other prohibitions, peeves etc. that we should know about?

Maybe it would be far simpler for you to get a web site and list each and every thiing that pisses you off about DU, DU'ers and life in general. Stringing out across several posts your "things I hate list" is confusing and hard to manage. I am quite sure that all of us at DU would appreciate some guidance in regard to satisfying your every whim and desire. Please let us know when you get your list together so we can be better informed.

Cheers!

[Warren DeMontague]

33. Thanks for showing up to fix things, Mr. Helper!

[dogday]

42. ROFLMAO

holy shit.....

[sabrina 1]

34. I didn't see anyone bickering until you decided to attack someone who posted

a story about human kindness. Is human kindness a bad thing iyo?

Maybe you're just having a bad 'get off my lawn' day and need a little human kindness yourself?

I sincerely hope you feel better soon.

[moriah]

37. I'd ask you to refer to the Metathread on this OP.

But just in case you haven't seen it, and to give you the benefit of the doubt since DU2 and DU3 are vastly different...

If you feel an OP is inappropriate for the forum it is posted on, you have the option of alerting on the thread itself. You can specify that you feel this post is more appropriate for the Lounge (as most "feel-good' stories and things that may not be related to political discussion are normally posted there.) This allows the moderators to make a decision about the appropriateness of the post.

As for embedding links and emoticons, sorry that you're limited to surfing on your iPad. I know when I use DU3 on my iPhone that I have the ability to change the mode to "Mobile", which eliminates a lot of the extraneous content that makes for difficult reading on a small screen. For those of us who generally surf using a webbrowser, however, the embedded videos and emoticons help to enhance our DU experience. There are many options you can explore under "My Account" and in the "Help" area that will help enhance *your* DU3 experience, which can include stripping signature lines that may bother you, etc.

I'm aware you may not be able to reply to this post, since one of your posts on this thread was hidden. However, I hope that you take this advice as it is meant -- gently, from a person who does her best not to incite other posters to anger.

[freshwest]

52. Just for you:

No soup for you!

[Control-Z]

64. They don't call us

"bleeding heart liberals" for nothing. I wear that title proudly. Your point may have been well received had it been posted in "Politics 2012". Since this is GD, I find your comments to be way off base.

(Posting from not-so-smart phone so please excuse any typo/spelling/punctuation errors. Thanks.)

[reflection]

24. I liked the story.

Not everyone is as jaded. And clearly not everyone agrees with you. So you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but that's all it is, and I expect it will be largely dismissed, especially when delivered in such an overbearing and condescending manner.

[DainBramaged]

26. Two words and Merry Christmas isn't your first guess

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Turns out this one is actually true.

Cynic that I am, I assumed this story (which I'd seen before) was just another one of those heart-warming but phony items that appear frequently in the Intertubes. But Snopes says it's real: http://www.snopes.com/glurge/cabride.asp The only inaccuracy is the headline - it took place in Minneapolis, not NYC.

[xxqqqzme]

17. Thank you for finding the snopes link.

I find it equally tiresome we have to endure the 'been here from the nearly beginning but hardly ever post' replies. Sure have been an incredible number of those lately.

[ebuendia]

20. Don't be so quick

Just because we don't post does not mean we have not been here from the beginning. And by the way, I was at the First Avenue music venue in DT Minneapolis when I heard the news that Dubya had been named the winner in 2000. I was very young then, but the very next day I peeled out my old graphite iBook and started searching for similar souls on the interwebs.

Since then, I've been a volunteer every cycle in the MN 6 in support of Keith and next door trying to unseat Bachmann. Not to mention 2008 and now trying to overturn voting ID in MN and the marriage amendment.

Just because I don't post do not label me as an interloper. I just dislike these maudlin 'feel good' posts that serve no purpose rather than make the original poster feel better about themselves. So you treated someone like a human being, or posted a story of someone else treating someone like a human being. What do you want, a goddamn cookie?

Help us beat the draconian voter ID laws, support our local Viking punter Chris Kluwe, and help us reelect our President. Stop posting ineffectual tear-jerker stories. We're DU members. We know we care for the less fortunate.

[nolabear]

40. You've made a mistake. This is DEMOCRATIC Underground. Petty Dictatorship Underground is next door

[freshwest]

53. ROFLMFAO!!!! Oh, and BTW for the magnificent one:

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

63. I prefer Armchair Despot Underground myself

Oh, and Not So Free Banana Republic has it's moments.

[JNelson6563]

50. OMG, stop your crying.

You sound like you need a nap.

I can only imagine where you got the notion you speak for anyone other than yourself here at DU.

And if you don't like posts like this then you just skip over them (that's what I do) or you can hit the alert and suggest that perhaps it belongs in the lounge (which I rarely do).

But to come in and shit all over a nice thread like this makes you look bad, not the OP.

Julie

[freshwest]

58. +1. Yes, it was a very nice thread until the disruptor appeared. Still a good OP.

[DainBramaged]

29. Match the words shit of and full and you'll be able to piece their puzzles together.

[MineralMan]

39. Yup. I've seen this posted in many places, and had looked it up several years ago.

It's been posted on DU before, too. It's a sweet story, and a sad one at that same time.

I'm glad that it's true and not something made up.

[riverbendviewgal]

16. I love his story

and have read it a few times...it deserves to be passed around again and again...

[yends21012]

18. I had the opportunity to volunteer at a hospice a few years ago.

Sweet, powerful moments like this one are not uncommon, especially if one's heart is open to them. I didn't get halfway through this post before tears were welling up and all of the old feelings from the people I met started coming back. Thanks for sharing the story.

[freshwest]

59. I've been wondering how does a person get into a hospice and how long they're allowed to stay...

How much it costs. I have heard stories here about hospice care, and imagine this is arranged by the last hospital they were treated in or by one's relatives. But this lady lived on her own and was able of managing everything. She wasn't in a nursing home or hospital before going, I guess.

[warrior1]

22. Sniff.

http://www.snopes.com/glurge/cabride.asp

Still I had to check snopes, it's rated as true.

[tavalon]

44. I'm glad

I never wanted this to be debunked though it is old and the lady in question has likely passed.

[lunatica]

25. The lady is in great hands at the hospice

Her last days will be as sweet and loving as that last taxi ride.

This made me cry. My mother had home hospice for the last few months of her life. If there is a Heaven I'm sure home hospice workers get to go through in the fast lane without having to pay any tolls.

[DainBramaged]

28. Yep. My Mom's 'helpers' were wonderful

She never complained about anything while she endured her last days. All she wanted was to watch her beloved Yankees until she slipped into a coma. Her helpers were crying when they called me to tell me she had passed.


For those who think DU is just politics, check your assholery at the door.

[Mopar151]

30. "In a fignt, it's all about heart"

Pro wrestler "Black Jack" (IIRC), explaining his choice of "Polish Hammer" Ivan Putski as a tag team partner, "cuttin a promo".

"I'm a damm good wrestler, but I grew up in the oil fields, and I know what it's like to fight! If we were gonna be in a wrestlin' match, I might pick someone else. But in a fight, you gotta go with heart - and that's why I'm goi'n with the Polack!"

And so it is with us... were this a political contest, both sides would be bidding for amoral creeps like Rove and Ailes, and truth-tellers like Howard Dean and Bernie Sanders would be hid out on East Mountain. But it's a fight - and we gotta go with heart.

[sabrina 1]

35. They are angels. We had them come when an older family member was

diagnosed with terminal cancer. I cannot say enough good things about them. It takes very special people to do what they do and I will always remember their kindness.

[kas125]

55. I called them a week and a half ago for my dad, whom I've been caring for for eight and a

half years. I only called to ask them how I'd know when it was the right time to call them since he'd stopped his cancer treatment three months earlier. I wanted to know when and who calls, me or his doctors. The woman said it's time NOW and don't worry, we'll call his doctor. They were here within three hours. By the next day, they'd brought him all the medications he needs, a walker, a wheelchair, a shower chair, oxygen, both permanent and portable... And they've been here almost every day since. I knew they were angels because we had them for my mom, but only for her last week. This time I don't know how long they'll be helping, all I know is that they changed my entire life, and his, in ONE DAY!

[sabrina 1]

56. That is wonderful, kas, I am so glad they are helping you at this difficult time.

I am sorry about your dad. They really are very, special people. The willingness to do this kind of work takes people whose hearts are filled with love for their fellow human beings. So rare.

[kas125]

57. Thanks, Sabrina. I don't know how they do what they do, I know I couldn't.

But I'm sure glad they do it! And btw, I don't remember if I've ever told you, but I think you're my favorite poster at DU. I cannot remember a single word I've ever read that you wrote that I didn't agree with 100%.

[Maine-ah]

45. hugs to you DainBramaged

I just lost my Mom this past may, and we ended up going with hospice at home. It was so hard to watch my Mom pass, and I'm still haunted with those images.

This is a beautiful story, and thank you for posting it. This morning we're going to the nursing home where my husbands grandmother is for a visit and this will be the last time we see her. She doesn't have much longer as the doctors have found bleeding in her stomach that they can't explain. It's been a hard year.

[MuseRider]

32. Very happy to know this is a true story.

I have seen it before and it never fails to bring tears to my eyes. I always figured it was just a nice story. Thanks for posting it.

[Whovian]

36. Very touching.

Had read this once before and the tears fell then as they do now. It's nice to know Snopes has considered it a true tale of a slice of human kindness.

[Rowdyboy]

38. Thanks for posting this....REALLY sorry you're not allowed to participate in this thread....

Just know that its appreciated.

[freshwest]

60. +1

[Auntie Bush]

41. I'm glad no one is here seeing me read this!

What a wonderful man!

[tavalon]

43. I've seen this many times and I don't even care if

Snopes debunks it. It speaks to the best in each of us.

[kentuck]

46. The meaning of life...

at the end of life.

[freshwest]

61. Well advised to think of it long before that day to appreciate living more.

[a kennedy]

47. Read it before bawling then.....

reading it now, bawling again..... love this story. Thanks for posting.

[JNelson6563]

49. That was truly lovely.

It is all too easy to get caught up in the hurry~hurry of life. Every once in a while, like in this story, we are given the opportunity to stop and gain a new perspective.

It is one of the more enduring qualities of the human experience.

Thanks for posting, I am touched by this story.

Julie~~always grateful for reminders such as these

[kimbutgar]

51. My eyes filled with tears after reading thank you for this

We forget that random acts of kindness mean more to us than the person who received the kindness. You are blessed in so many ways and a beautiful Person. Thank you.

[HiPointDem]

54. sweet.