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Big Brother and online Hunger games.

A long read but definitely worth it

3rdMay 3, 2012 by Calculate
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.

Comments

:(
Sent by Piddu,May 3, 2012
omg. :/
That's so sweet.
Sent by Ingrid,May 3, 2012
aww :(
Sent by maxiphone27,May 3, 2012
:(
Sent by Awan,May 3, 2012
actually bought me to tears a little bit :(
Sent by g1ng4,May 3, 2012
Awwwww =[
Sent by Soccerismylif3,May 3, 2012
that's so sweett!!!
Sent by SexyBanana,May 3, 2012
:(
Sent by atti12,May 3, 2012
This warmed up my heart. :'D
Sent by finklestein123,May 3, 2012
this is just a breath of fresh air on tengaged
Sent by Tepr,May 3, 2012
:')
Sent by austino15fffan,May 3, 2012
awwww
Sent by egaga911,May 3, 2012
Wow :')
Sent by konohavillage1,May 3, 2012
that's awesome!!!
Sent by KingB24,May 3, 2012
:{
Sent by kimmal8,May 3, 2012
aww!
Sent by Athena,May 3, 2012
Omg.
Sent by Alyssa95,May 3, 2012
I'm so glad this made top blogs, after reading it, I showed my friend and she genuinely cried.
Sent by g1ng4,May 3, 2012
Awwe that's so sweet
Sent by sameister,May 3, 2012
This was beautiful
Sent by Viola,May 3, 2012
idgi... :/
where was the fucking punchline...lame
Sent by Meowfie,May 3, 2012
Chills.
Sent by RobbieRIOT,May 3, 2012
I love this.
Sent by RiDsTeR,May 3, 2012
The cab driver then failed to make his rent payment and got evicted from his home.

Cynicism - 1
Helping an old lay relive her past - 0
Sent by Zedd,May 3, 2012
Why are people saying this is sad?  It's actually incredibly moving and life affirming.  I normally hate schmarmy stories like this but this was genuinely heart felt and heartwarming.  Unfortunately most people wouldn't have been that kind, I wish I had a moment like this because I think older people are the most interesting people in the world, they have so much time and memories built up.
Sent by Sebbers,May 3, 2012
wow this gave me a lump in my throat and a squeeze on my heart. How sad yet amazing at the same time.
I feel the same way the taxi driver did towards my patients and people in general, I always think that my smile may make them have a better day or my listening to what they have to say may make a difference.
Also this feeling that I get when I read things like this or work with elderly patients makes me not able to work in geriatrics. I am more of a pediatric type of girl because like sebbers said they have such memories and its hard for me to see them feel powerless when they once had family and success.
Sent by Emmaleigh,May 4, 2012
awwwwwwww it almost made ​​me cry!
Sent by MorganX,May 4, 2012

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