Thursday, September 22, 2011

The Cab Ride...

I arrived at the address and honked the horn.

After waiting a few minutes 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 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 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.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY

WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID

~BUT~

THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER

HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.



Credits: Shri MPR Nair for forwarding this by e-mail.

Friday, December 18, 2009

TRUE INSPIRING STORY.. WHEN A LIZARD CAN, WHY CAN'T WE ?

This is a true story that happened in Japan.

In order to renovate the house,

Someone in Japan breaks open the wall.

Japanese houses normally have a hollow space betweenThe wooden walls.

When tearing down the walls, he found thatThere was a lizard stuck there

Because a nail from outside hammered into one of its feet.

He sees this, feels pity, and at the same time curious,As when he checked the nail,

It was nailed 5 years ago when the house was first built !!!

What happened?

The lizard has survived in such position for 5 years!

In a dark wall partition for 5 years without moving,It is impossible and mind-boggling.

Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 5 years!Without moving a single step--since its foot was nailed!

So he stopped his work and observed the lizard,What it has been doing, and what and how it has been eating.

Later, not knowing from where it came, appears another lizard,With food in its mouth.

Ah! He was stunned and touched deeply.

For the lizard that was stuck by nail,Another lizard has been feeding it for the past 5 years...

Imagine? It has been doing that untiringly for 5 long years,Without giving up hope on its partner.

Imagine what a small creature can doThat a creature blessed with a brilliant mind can't.

Please never abandon your loved ones

Lesson from the Story:

Never Say you are Busy When They Really Need You...

You May Have The Entire World At Your Feet.

But You Might Be The Only World To Them..

A Moment of negligence might break the very heart Which loves you thru all odds..

Before you say something just remember. It takes a moment to Break But an entire lifetime to make...

Credits: Venugopal, Baroda Warriers

Dhanam magazine, December 2009 issue

Click here to download in pdf format and read.



Credits: MalluTribes

Vanitha Nov 15-30 issue

Click here to download in pdf format and read.


Credits: MalluTribes

Manorama Arogyam, December 2009 issue

Click here to download in pdf format and read.



Credits: MalluTribes

Thursday, August 13, 2009

GOSSIP !!!

Next time someone starts to spread gossip, think of this:

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.

One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"

Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test.It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued. "You may still pass the test though,because there is a third filter - the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful,! why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed.

This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.