Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One time I arrived in the middle of the night for a pick up at a building that 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, 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, 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, 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.”
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, 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.
A true story by Kent Nerburn
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
Next Comments →
Thats nice, in life its the simple things that we take for granted that often can make people happy.
I love that story it hit home.
Always remember is nice to be imprtant, but its more important to be nice.
It was a wonderful story.. really heart touching because that cab driver gave his one night to the lady’s last night. It didn’t make any difference to his life but that lady lived her life again in that last drive.
That was a great deed I would have done the same & wish to tell all other drivers to be patient ,kind & ready to go the second mile. Don’t honk & go away.no old person can jump up & run to the door ,it will take at least 4 or 5 honks before they can reach the door so wait or better still go qut & help.
I think all of us are given opportunities such as this in life…a chance to learn a profound life-altering lesson from what we might choose to let pass as an insignificant moment. It is about being present, aware, and making a choice to open oneself to the wisdom the Universe lays on our doorstep.
ahh…what a great story, one that I will remember and hold in my heart. Thank you Kent for sharing. It is nice to know that there are people like you out there.
Thank you for your story. Not every story has to have a monetary reward for the reader to feel some catharsis in the heart. Life demands that we reach out especially to the elderly and poor simply because they will always be with us, and it is our moral duty.
Thanks again for your wonderful story.
Wonderful story! My late father was a hardworking cab driver. He was/is my hero. I absolutely love your last line!
Patience and the joy of giving are great virtues. May more people see the beauty of sharing some precious moments of their time with someone who needs the grasp of a friendly hand or a warm and beautiful smile. It makes the world a wonderful place to be in. God Bless you!
Thanks for your story, it really made my day.
It’s really very amazing… I liked it very much….!
Awwww…it was a totally nice story..very inspiring… :'( I’m really touched.
That was such a beautiful story, people like you deserve to be recognized in this world. the nice lady would of felt so warm and fuzzled inside, thank you very much for sharing that story 🙂
Thanks for giving a nice story teaching us in life a little movement can bring a lesson.
I’m still staring into space; lost in thought, humbled by the lessons in the story and moved to similar disposition.
The most beautiful inspiratinal story God bless u
Hi Cida,
The author of this story is Kent Nerburn, his website: http://kentnerburn.com
This story originally appeared in his book: Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace.
In this blog post on his blog, you can find his thoughts when this story started circulating around the internet: http://kentnerburn.com/archives/304
Dear all, this story has been translated to Portuguese and here in Brazil many people say this story is theirs or took place somewhere in their town, bla, bla, bla.
Does anyone know exactly who is the real author of this story? It is a very nice and blessing story but I would like to be able to say this to some people who brag about themselves using this story.
Thanks and God bless you all.
I wonder through all these stories that people read and comment on makes a difference in their lives after reading such than before?
May your tribe increase Kent! I salute you! =)
All stories are wonderful and like very much. Hats off to writers. Good website for stories’ lover.
so inspiring… two thumbs for you man!
It’s a very touching story it made me cry,really. It reminds me of my grandma who passed away 1 year ago. 🙁
Wonderful story.
heart touching………taking out time for unknown elderly in todays time is marvellous
Wonderful story, its a great feeling to make someone happy, there are few moments in life which we can never forget.
MInd blowing, really very touching line………
What an amazing and inspirational story – we just do not know the impact that our kindness will bring, do we? Please think on and recognise every opportunity to be kind and show kindness, if we all do the same-the world will be an amazing place!
Soo touching story.. I paused for a moment after I read this.. I admire you Kent.. thanks for a heart warming experience shared to us..
its a good moral story. money is not everything in life. thank you so much.
a very nice story =)
this is a very good moral story… it shows that you may have a life full of happiness but to give moments of joy to someone elderly can be a very gratifying feeling. also, that money isn’t everything in life…. sometimes wat you do for sumone else and get their blessings— well that could be great reward. so help people and please dont always look for something in return because something unknown to you could be given to you as a reward in the face of a blessing.
Oh great story. Keep it up, you will surely become a millionaire in your next life. You are great. You have a good heart and may God bless you.
Thanks for the wonderful story. I would try to be a better person from this day…
Wonderfull !
I felt very light when I read this story. I’ll make myself and others to follow the same as this person, the driver.
The thought of that woman’s life almost gone, it’s inchanting hearing how she spent most of it and while you read this story you can’t help but feel like life is so short. Think about how you spent your life. Did you do something special or live your life well before it passed you by. Stop slow down, breath and live a life worth living.
It was a great story I didn’t know what it was about until now its sad.. 🙁
I love this story thanks kent it inspire me a lot, in the end kindness rocks, cheers….
heart touching,…………..you know I am crying right now
WoW. Great. Million thanks 2 the cab driver for his patience and courtesy. We must imbibe these qualities in our life. We are human beings so love must be the important ingredient of our life.
A nice moral indeed for all of us to follow. Thanks for creating such a motivational website.
great story..
It was a wonderful story, it was so touching.
it turned me speechless….
I just could say, wonderful story…
Hi, I am copying this story to write for an exam of my life.
Really good. Hope we all can do the same thing what the cab driver did.
Beautiful story.. I’m just speechless!!!
It has always motivated me to do better.
Really heart touching…
awesome…..
Really nice……….. I like it very much…
Attitude matters… Money can’t buy anything.