{"id":8257,"date":"2013-12-11T00:00:26","date_gmt":"2013-12-11T05:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/?p=8257"},"modified":"2013-12-10T22:57:01","modified_gmt":"2013-12-11T03:57:01","slug":"the-last-cab-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/2013\/12\/the-last-cab-ride.html","title":{"rendered":"The Last Cab Ride"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I arrived at the address and honked the horn.\u00a0 <\/span>After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.<\/span>\u00a0 \u2018Just a minute\u2019, answered a frail, elderly voice. <\/span>I could hear something being dragged across the floor.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After a long pause, the door opened.\u00a0 A small woman in her 90’s stood before me.\u00a0 She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie.<\/span><\/p>\n

By her side was a small nylon suitcase.\u00a0 <\/span>The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years.\u00a0 <\/span>All the furniture was covered with sheets.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There were no locks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.\u00a0 <\/span>In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Would you carry my bag out to the car?\u2019 she said.\u00a0 <\/span>I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.<\/span>\u00a0 She kept thanking me for my kindness.\u00a0 \u2018It\u2019s nothing\u2019, I told her.\u00a0 <\/span>\u2018I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Oh, you\u2019re such a good boy, she said.\u00a0 <\/span>When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, \u2018Could you drive through downtown?\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s not the shortest way,\u2019 I answered quickly.<\/span> \u2018Oh, I don\u2019t mind,\u2019 she said.\u00a0 <\/span>\u2018I\u2019m in no hurry. I\u2019m on my way to a hospice.\u00a0\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I looked in the rear-view mirror.\u00a0 <\/span>Her eyes were glistening.\u00a0 <\/span>\u2018I don\u2019t have any family left,\u2019 she continued in a soft voice..<\/span> the doctor says I don\u2019t have very long.\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.<\/span>\u00a0 \u2018What route would you like me to take?\u2019 I asked.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For the next two hours, we drove through the city.\u00a0 <\/span>She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.<\/span>\u00a0 We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 Sometimes she\u2019d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, \u2018I\u2019m tired.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go now\u2019.<\/span>\u00a0 We drove in silence to the address she had given me.\u00a0 It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up.\u00a0 <\/span>They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.\u00a0 <\/span>They must have been expecting her.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door.\u00a0 <\/span>The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018How much do I owe you?\u2019\u00a0 She asked, reaching into her purse.<\/span>\u00a0 \u2018Nothing,\u2019 I said.<\/span>\u00a0 You have to make a living,\u2019 she answered.<\/span>\u00a0 \u2018There are other passengers,\u2019 I responded.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.\u00a0 <\/span>She held onto me tightly.<\/span>\u00a0 \u2018You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,\u2019 she said.<\/span>\u00a0 \u2018Thank you.\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.<\/span>\u00a0 Behind me, a door shut.\u00a0 <\/span>It was the sound of the closing of a life..<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t pick up any more passengers that shift.\u00a0 <\/span>I drove aimlessly lost in thought.<\/span>\u00a0 For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.\u00a0 <\/span>What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?<\/span>\u00a0 What if I had refused to take the run,\u00a0 or had honked once, then driven away?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On a quick review,\u00a0 I don\u2019t think that I have done anything more important in my life.<\/span>\u00a0 We\u2019re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.<\/span>\u00a0 But great moments often catch us unaware, beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“A little acknowledgement goes a long way.”<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

blessings,<\/span>
\n\ud83d\ude42 <\/span>Lee<\/span>
\nThe MEGA Coach<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"People<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I arrived at the address and honked the horn.\u00a0 After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.\u00a0 \u2018Just a minute\u2019, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened.\u00a0 A small woman in her 90’s stood before me.\u00a0 She…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":229,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,6,10,1,2,7,3,11,4],"tags":[12,29,13,14,18,15,21,9,17,19],"class_list":["post-8257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-acknowledgement","category-communication","category-empowerment","category-personal-growth","category-professional-development","category-relationships","category-success","category-transformation","category-wealth","tag-challenge","tag-faith","tag-fascination","tag-fear","tag-following-your-path","tag-growth","tag-health","tag-inspiration","tag-opportunity","tag-path-to-success"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Last Cab Ride - Have a Magnificent Day!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/2013\/12\/the-last-cab-ride.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Last Cab Ride - Have a Magnificent Day!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I arrived at the address and honked the horn.\u00a0 After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.\u00a0 \u2018Just a minute\u2019, answered a frail, elderly voice. 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For 30 years he has studied what motivates human\/spiritual beings. His life passion focuses on inspiring people to grow, awaken and actualize their divine potential. As co-founder of the Power of Acknowledgement organization in the eighties, Lee and his mentor, Michael Wyman shared a powerful technology to uplift people to achieve their dreams. In 1985, Lee and Michael served as motivational coaches for the New York Rangers working directly with Craig Patrick, who was assistant coach on the legendary 1980 US Olympic Hockey team. Lee also founded Insights to Excellence, Inc., a sales and management consulting and training organization. He developed and presented seminars designed to empower people to actualize their full potential, both personally and professionally. Lee's has two passions. As The MEGA Coach, his focus is to inspire people to live the divine plan of their lives. In addition, Lee is a Wealth Advisor in financial services and retirement planning. He provides effective financial solutions that guarantee protection, security and financial freedom. Lee graduated with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Rochester and an MBA in Finance and Human Resource Management from the University of San Diego. Lee uplifts people to make each day a masterpiece. In his blog, Have A Magnificent Day!, Lee offers daily boosts of inspiration to help you start your day with a ray of hope and positive thoughts.","sameAs":["http:\/\/%20"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/author\/themegacoach"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/229"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8257"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8269,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8257\/revisions\/8269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/haveamagnificentday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}